#he and nif make me so happy you have no idea

[ritamariealan]

I just realized how funny it is for Alastor to be awake considering he didn't do a goddamn thing to help

Building a new hotel must be tiring, rest here my dear.

[charlottedabookworm]

? About AU’s

Do you think you could do a quick summary of your AU’s? I get some of them but I’m confused by what others are (Time is cruel but gods are crueler for example) - Queenie

oooooh boy

okay so i’m assuming you mean the aus on my ffxv au list cos if you don’t we’re going to be here all day

…frankly we might be here all day anyway but starting from the top:

ardynson au: pretty self explanatory, explores a verse where nyx is born as ardyn’s son

graveyard of blades: a reveal au of the ardynson au where in a ‘fuck this is bad invasion scenario’ nyx basically goes ‘yo bahamut i’m the accursed’s son come and get me’ and then runs through the crowd of enemies as bahamut tries to kill him

time is cruel: another ardynson au except this time nyx is born as ardyn’s son two thousand years ago and the curse that bamahut puts on ardyn to never die extends to ardyn’s whole line. so nyx and ardyn are both alive, don’t know the other is alive, and finally meet again in the throne room of insomnia in the kingsglaive film

the cruellest cut: an au of time is cruel that is. incredible similiar except cor is also there as ardyn’s shield and husband. all three of them alive but with no idea anyone else survived and it’s basically time is cruel but with extra angst and then extra fluff reunions

that one where aulea is also ardyn’s daughter: again, pretty self explanatory. aulea and nyx are both ardyn’s kids. yes this makes noctis nyx’s nephew.

 regisson au: nyx is regis’ son

one more light: a regisson au that involves nyx sacrifiing himself at the end of the game in noct’s place and then time travel happens and noct is, shockingly, not happy that his big brother sacrificed hismelf for him

fractured lightning: regisson au where nyx is captured by niflheim for a few years and experimented on. much angst

blood of the storm: regisson au where half the glaive is full of galahdian noble bastards. libertus is clarus’. crowe is a bastard cousin of luna and ravus. selena ulric is aldercapts bastard daughter. pelna is wesk’s. this entire au is just crack okay

starlight on your skin: regisson au where platonic soulmates are a thing, soulmarks are a thing, the long night happens and nyx is basically the only one left and astrals send him back in time to fix things. he crashes in the past in front of his younger self and oh shit wasn’t i halfway througha  chapter for that one?

somnusson au: as you can guess, nyx is somnus’ son. i’m not very creative sometimes

dying inside: first fic in the somnusson au, also on ao3. somnus loves his son and kills him for standing with ardyn anyway. much angst. very hurt. sad.

a lesson in time: sequel to dying inside, also on ao3

the phoenix must burn: more stuff in the dying inside au

prompto ulric au: prompto is nyx’s son

you’re the best thing that ever happened to me: a teenage nyx rescues a baby from a nif lab. he’s a dad now. very cute

lightning flashes (and you are free): a fusion of fractured lightning and prompto ulric. this is the happier verse that’s also on ao3

galahdian royalty: galahd has it’s own kings. (nyx. it has nyx. yes i’m obessed with nyx you might have guessed that by now)

platonic promnoct time travel: the game happens. prompto and noctis wake up 16 and grieving and PTSD ridden and determined to change things. also on ao3 under our past is everything we failed to be

si!iris verse: iris is an oc insert from the modern world. amicitia’s are related to ulrics in this. i haven’t touched this au in years wow

styx ulric verse: nxy and selena have a third sibling. styx is an oc insert with game knowledge who is wesk’s daughter and absolutely determined that her brother is gonna live. makes a name for herself as both an academic and a heretic. half the tag is fake tweets

nox fleuret bastard verse: amatus (mat) is sylva’s bastard son. he runs from tenebrae when niflheim invades when he’s a kid. he becomes a glaive marries nyx makes a life for himself and then oh the captain who is like their father is the man who murdered his mother

virtus fic: oc glaive who died in the long night time travels, understandably has issues, rescues baby noct from the marilith. also on ao3. trying desperatelt to work on the next chapter of this cos i got a really nice comment recently

ramuhson au: again, selfexplanatory. nyx is ramuh’s son

that one au were somnus is actually a decent human being: somnus isn’t a dick. he stands with his brother. bahamut is far more of one by forcing him

ardyn king of galahd verse: galahd still recongises ardyn as their king, nyx is ramuh’s chosen. obviously this causes problems when ardyn appears in the lucian throne room and all of galahd recongises him as their lost king

uncle cor au: cor is nyx and selena’s uncle

si!somnus verse: somnus is an oc insert with game and medical knowledge. is fully determined to save his brother. bahamut doesn’t care and somnus is forced to kill his brother anyway. somnus is cursed and eventually reunites with his brother. one day i will actually write this fic

oc assassin aldercapt verse: aris is an oc thief/assassin reincarnated as aldercapt’s son. sentinal guide au. aris fakes his own death blows up half the palace and runs away to insomnia only to be eventually recognised by arydn who still terrifies him

titus has a kid verse: abo au where titus has a daughter who is being held hostage to make titus do what niflheim wants. she escapes and spends years searching for a cure for the glauca parasite in her dad. eventually joins the glaive under a fake id to do this

cor bastard kid verse: cor has a kid. kid is a nursing student who used ot tutor prompto. he adopted the kid basically

yan conall royal bastard with regrets au: yan is regis’ bastard child. he’s a hunter. he does not realise the kid he saves is actually his brother until too late cos regis - who doesn’t recognise who he is - drags him back to insomnia for a reward and yan is full of many regrets

wolfshifter ardyn au: ardyn is a wolfshifter. on his trip to niflheim, cor comes back with a wolf and a baby. somewhat crackish

aulea has a sister: who is an archaeologist. she’s on a dig when noct is born and her sister dies and anyway noct grows up with an aunt who loves him and is also like fuck that prophecy historically they’re bullshit

ghosts of our souls: nyx and noct are platonic soulmates. when one of your dies the other one follows them around as a ghost. you don’t know you’re soulmates until one of you is dead. there’s time travel. regis is very confuzzled

ardyn and nyx are timelords: ardynson au where ardyn’s mum was a timelady and so nyx and ardyn go on adventures in her tardis

clown and the accursed: verse where allen walker (d.gray-man) is born as ardyn’s son

nyx is zack reborn: self explanatory

apollo kid yeeted into eos: kid from pjo gets a prophecy. gets yeeted into eos. i never got very far with this one cos i forgot to write down where i was going with it

MT reincarnate siblings: a handful of the MT’s are reincarnates. one is Tobirama (naruto). another is a soldier from ffvii. the last is a scientist from solheim. they live in altissia

[ctl-yuejie]

tag game ✨

tagged by @howdydowdy​ (thanks babe, I am somehow 38 days late with this which cannot be true since it felt like yesterday you answered that your tumblr crush is me and I have been thinking constantly about it <3 )

1. why did you choose your url?

only ever meant to use this for Crossing The Line content since my main blog was exclusively for NIF content. I added the original name as well since crossing the line was a. already taken b. the tag contains a lot of porn

since I love to gush about shows with others and do overshare it slowly morthed more into a personal very gay blog. but i like the name and the show is still very dear to me so I don’t think I’ll change it.

2. any sideblogs?

this is my sideblog!

3. how long have you been on tumblr?

made my first blog in 2009, took a break long enough for my account to get deleted (rip “stroke-you-like-an-arpeggio”) and came back in 2017 when the second season of Nirvana In Fire started airing and I began to make gifs + there wasn’t any fandom content outside of tumblr (at least easily accessible to me).

4. do you have a queue tag?

no. i am happy enough when I remember to slowly mine down my likes and put them in the smeltery that is the queue

5. why did you start your blog in the first place?

see no 1.

6. why did you choose your icon/pfp? 

chose it at random because I needed sth but had no idea what would fit. really uninspired and i have no inspiration nor will to change it

7. why did you choose your header? 

to fit the name!

8. what’s your post with the most notes?

this found family trope post from the untamed with 4.249 notes. i do really like that post.

9. how many mututals do you have?

hmmmm, around 12 or so? some of them haven’t been active in a long time. and i do tend to unfollow mutuals at times if there’s too much content on my dash that I’m not that into, but I also refollow and try to hold up the rapport.

10. how many followers do you have? around 4000

11. how many people do you follow? 44 (I am pretty selective and want to be able to scroll through all of my dash without being smothered by content)

12. have you ever made a shitpost?

Definitely tried to, I am very untalented at posting one deliberatedly.

13. how often do you use tumblr each day?

I check my dash in the morning and I try to get some more time in on some days to actually reblog content

14. did you have a fight/argument with another blog once? 

not a real fight, even some anon that made me angry turned out to be understanding so luckily I didn’t have to deal with any of that. I do tend to stick my nose into other people’s arguments from time to time and not always for the better

15. how do you feel about ‘you need to reblog this’ posts

just scroll past them or try to find a version that doesn’t have that addition to reblog if the content itself is worth sharing

16. do you like tag games? eh...most of them don’t seem to apply to me

17. do you like ask games? yes! even though i sometimes take ages to do them

18. which of your mutuals do you think is tumblr famous?

none. some of my mutuals do have very large and/or active followings though. i adore that some of my mutuals are lauded for some particular posting skill or fandom contributions - it’s really nice to see

19. do you have a crush on a mutual?

writes @howdydowdy more love letters

20. tags?

@florbexter @piningbisexuals @minmoyu @somewhatavidreader @weilongfu @earthpodd  -> nvm if you have done one of these before, my head is empty

[secret-engima]

So I am dying with laughter over your Clouds and Moonlit Skies AU, honestly are so much fun! Loving how you portray everyone :) However I have to admit it is sending my mind spiraling with what ifs & can't stop thinking about Sephiroth (& Cloud too) being reincarnated in Nifheilm earlier. With Sephiroth getting suspicious of the Nif Mad Scientist and snooping til he finds Prompto. After which he's like 'Fuck it. Baby Gloud-Me Clone, this is the Gods telling me it's arson & murder time again...'

Glad you enjoyed!

And yeah that would be a ... pretty interesting AU actually. Seph is reborn in Niflheim and can immediately tell Something Is UP, and then when he’s old enough he starts snooping and finds ... Cloud. And he knows it’s Cloud, he can FEEL it, in the air, in the slightest tingle of magic, in the way the baby’s blue eyes are too-intelligent and desperate.

Sephiroth cradles the child close to his chest, cooing softly, promising destruction and death to all who hurt him like this. The lab goes up in flames with Besithia already dead and thoroughly stabbed in his office. Sephiroth leaves the lab with a baby in each arm (because you commented on them being reincarnated “earlier” so my brain spiraled off into what if Cloud was reincarnated as a different clone and now has bby Prompto as a twin sibling so we’ll go with that?). Seph is, obviously on the run because he’s going to be wanted in all of Niflheim if they ever recover enough footage to know it was him, and he maybe blows up a few more installations and labs for good measure before escaping to Lucis held territory with his not-as-healthy-as-they-should-be-but-hey-he’s-flying-blind-here infants.

Luckily, he runs into some Galahdians within like- ten minutes of getting to shore and when they make appropriately outraged noises at the condition Seph’s rescues are he openly admits that he has zero clue how to take care of babies, he rescued these two from “savage animals” and has been trying to keep them alive as best he can with zero info to go on.

The Galahdians take one (1) look at this obviously Nif born white-haired, grey eyed maniac with a too big sword strapped to his back and bags the size of craters under his eyes and go, “Welp looks like we have a new Clan idiot now.”

Seph is immensely grateful for their help, even if it means them putting a braid in his hair and insisting he’s family now? He’s pretty sure that’s now how the Lucian adoption system works but whatever. He’s more then happy to abandon his reincarnation name and go back to being Sephiroth, now with a clan name tacked on.

In case you’re wondering, that clan name is Ulric. Because Nyx happened to be there while on leave, visiting Lib’s family that lives outside of Insomnia with his best friend when this madman drifted ashore with an infant on each hip. And ... and Nyx is the last Ulric, he knows that, he also knows that he should not adopt lightly, considering he’s the last Ulric Chief. But there’s something in the man’s eyes, a wildness, a predatory glint that reminds him of the Coeurls and of storms, or hunting in the jungle with just a kukri to protect him and he ...

Offers. As impulsive as ever, following some instinct he can’t name. Offers Clan and family, protection and aid for the children, belonging for the Nif refugee where none will ask questions (better another Galahdian trickling in then dealing with the drama of someone fleeing Niflheim). Lib hisses at him because CAUTION NYX IT’S A THING but Sephiroth agrees in a heartbeat and Nyx weaves the Ulric braid into shoulder-length silver hair.

So yeah, Seph moves into Little Galahd with his two kids Cloud and Prompto (Nyx named Prompto after finding out that Sephiroth has just been calling him “Child” because he has no idea how to name anything not already named Cloud) and ends up joining the Kingsglaive for money (after being convinced that yes, the Ostiums will happily babysit for as long as necessary and YES they will remember his long list of things to look out for with Cloud).

Sephiroth makes ... an Impression on the glaive during his training and trials. He fights like a wild-cat, deadly and fast and instinctive, already acing most of the tests without any magic, and the other recruits could swear that sometimes his grey eyes flicker to slitted green as he dances through combat training. He’s let in and soon there are two Ulrics to terrorize the battlefield (and also a bit of a mass panic among the Ostiums who now need to find him a Braincell to join the glaive because Lib is NOT able to contain both Nyx and Seph).

Sephiroth’s Braincell turns out to be a spitfire of an Ostium, a woman who has known the joys of punching things since she was in the cradle (ie Tifa, because if in this AU Seph was born in Niflheim then Tifa was born in Lucis/Galahd). She joins the glaive and Captain maybe pulls his hair out a little at having a recruit who refuses to use any weapon but her fists, but then it turns out her fists work REALLY WELL and also she keeps Sephiroth in line so she gets a pass.

Sephiroth and Tifa size each other up warily, memories and lifetimes between them even though it takes Seph a while to remember the spunky punch-happy woman Cloud had on his team. They get into one nasty fight where it looks like they might actually be trying to kill each other and then afterword Seph takes Tifa home to meet toddler Cloud.

Zack ends up trundling into the training grounds when he’s about 3-4 years old, takes one (1) look at Sephiroth warping his way across the ground like a silver blur and starts screeching for him, nearly pitching head first off the balcony in his efforts to get to “Seph” while a servant panic grabs him. Sephiroth abandons the course to come over and by the time Regis gets down there because someone called him about this, Noctis is happily perched in Sephiroth Ulric’s lap, babbling away and tugging at long silver hair while Sephiroth hums in indulgent amusement. Regis apologizes for the interruption, Sephiroth says it’s fine, he has two sons at home who are this age. Noctis shrieks louder and Sephiroth answers like it was a question and not unintelligible noise, “Their names are Cloud and Prompto.”

Somehow Regis finds himself setting up a playdate between the prince and this glaive’s twin sons and Noctis gloms onto the twins within 0.05 seconds of meeting them (Prompto is a treasure, never asking how Noctis and Cloud already knew each other, or why they cried as they hugged, or why Cloud calls Noctis Zack, he just rolls with it and they adore him in turn as their joint bby brother).

[lilyssims]

                       ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ - ᴘᴀʀᴛ 1

It has been a while since I last opened a journal to write and sort out my thoughts. I’m not going to lie, it has been a bumpy ride since my last entry here. Many things have happened since, and some of them still does not make sense to me, some of them are still making me feel confused and exhausted. As I have flipped through the pages of my last entry, I realise I have been living in a bubble of denial. In the last entry I had, once again was about me coming home to a tearful Lacey. All the anguish she put herself through every day when I would leave for work. The mornings could start ever so good – like something that might seem like living a dream. Her happy smile, the smell of coffee and breakfast she would prepare for us in the morning. However, it would only be a matter of time, before she say she hoped I’d come home early to spend time with her. I hardly ever overwork. Of course, it happens occasionally, just as it does for everyone else. For Lacey, just having me leave every morning was a living nightmare.

In the beginning, I did not put much thought into it. After all, we just moved into a new house together, moved in together, started our life together; so at some point it was only natural she felt a little anxious about the whole thing. However, as the weeks and months passed, it grew more and more intense. There was a time I came home a little later than expected due to heavy traffic from an accident. A tearful Lacey flung herself in my arms the very second I opened the front door. She was crying and shaking uncontrollably. Soothing her the best way I could, she finally seemed to calm down. It was then she made my breathing stop. For the first time in my life, she left me breathless, unable to comprehend the words that would leave her mouth.

“I thought you were with another woman,” she said in a quiet whisper. Icy chills ran up and down my spine in a way I thought was not possible. She thought I was cheating on her.

“I was stuck in the traffic. There was an accident, 4 cars involved,” I explained, rubbing her back to calm her down. My mind was racing, spinning, tripping over itself in the strangest ways. “There is no way I would be seeing another woman. Why would I? You’re the only one for me, remember?” I rest my palm on her cheek to lift it up to look into her eyes. I don’t think any man in this world likes to see the one he loves the most cry. Frankly, it felt like my heart was beating its’ way out of my chest.

“I-I don’t like it when you’re home late,” she niffed and buried her face in my chest.

“I’m sorry. I should have called you,” guilt was welling up inside me. I made a mistake. I should have let her know, but I didn’t think about that.

 A part of me was convinced this was the end to all her worry and anxiety. That was what I wanted to believe. Sadly, it was not the case. I took the next day off to spend time with Lacey, to make sure she was all right and clear things up. I wanted to make it clear to her that I was not seeing another woman. We had a nice weekend, enjoyed another’s company and overall just had some quality time. I remember my mother called me the following week – she does that when she feels it’s been too long since she heard from me. We talked for a while. Mostly she ranted about Angie’s boyfriend. My mother can be rather judgemental when she wants to, and it seemed like she had found herself a victim for her judgement. When she suddenly changed the subject, it felt like my tongue swelled up to twice its normal size.

“Noah you sound different, is everything all right?” her words strangely caught me off guard. I guess the most people would say they know their parents – mothers specifically well. I had not seen that coming. Where a huge part of me rather not wanted to talk about it, I knew there was no way that she would take a ‘no’ for an answer. She would keep pushing the subject until I went to confession.

“Things are fine. Just had a busy time lately,” I forced myself to smile, convinced myself that was the reason to my messed up feelings. She went quiet for a moment on the phone, and I could almost picture a frown on her face when I closed my eyes.

“Is that so? Do you think that just because you moved to Windenburg, that you would be able to fool me?” her words echoed through the phone. I hadn’t noticed this before, but my hand started to tremble uncomfortably. Don’t get me wrong, I love my mom, but I have no idea what was happening to me.

“Whatever do you mean?” I mustered out. I meant to say nothing was wrong, but for some reason those words didn’t come out of my mouth as easily as I could think them.

“Are things with Lacey fine, too?” as soon as those words left her, I found myself looking out of the window. My eyes fell to Lacey who was working in the garden. Mom kept talking, but I did not pay too much attention. I was in my own world. I loved the girl, the woman in the garden with everything in me. It was I, who was wrong. It was I, who couldn’t see her love.

 My mother’s words did not exactly settle my mind the slightest. In fact, I am sure it made my mind even more wander even more. I had to make sure not to mess up anything. For anything in the world, I didn’t want to lose Lacey because of my own stupidity. Most nights I either didn’t sleep well or didn’t sleep at all. I would toss and turn in hope to find peace.

If things were not already messy, the time that followed made it even more so. I came out of the shower one evening and found Lacey sitting on our bed with my phone in her hands. At first I didn’t think too much of it, because she had a habit of doing that, but when I asked what she was doing she had a reaction I did not see coming. She lashed out on me, as I have never had it before.

“Are you saying I am a control freak? A hysteric ass woman who only want things her way?” I had no idea how to respond. Her words were like a whip that hit and stung so hard. I was so confused. I wondered what I said that made her suddenly feel that way. Was I really so blind that I could not see I was hurting her feelings? I did not call her anything. I just asked what she was doing. Maybe it was my tone that did it; that sounded accusing or something. But she implied I would think about her in such way.

She ended up screaming and crying in my arms, while all I could do was to apologize to her. She fell asleep on my shoulder as she would normally do, and even though it normally would make me feel happy and content inside I couldn’t sleep. All I did was stare at the beams in the ceiling. Of course there had been periods in my life where I had trouble sleeping, but it was nothing compared to how I was feeling that moment. My eyes went from the ceiling to Lacey’s sleeping form from time to time. I tried to focus on the happy and bright sides. I tried to recall how it felt when she slept in my arms for the first time. This was the woman I loved, why was it so hard to recall those feelings?

Maybe I am the wrong one.

[gillapusouth1975-blog]

The story not focusing enough on the auxiliary X Men for my liking. In Avengers: No Surrender, we got a decent amount of Avengers action. Here, it mostly been the same characters for half the run. Standing is often more comfortable for boys. He will sit on potty for poop only. If yours is ready, the naked 3 days method should be easy to do. He was not very happy. I don remember the whole thing but there was some kind of confrontation after which we bounced him and he decided to walk home. This man also had some anger issues and while on his way home he decided to punch out the rear window of my neighbor SUV. It a long video, but I found it really informative. She starts with an intro filmed after using the palette which includes a lot of honest, seemingly unbiased discussion of the drama associated with the palette (how to use it, staining etc.). She also says she did a lot of research into how to use the palette and came back with a better idea of how to use it. Everything you said is based on your own personal feelings on the subject so there no reason to take it seriously. The only way to accurately study the average mode of penis size seen by women is to do a long term study that had a 3rd party (such as the study conductor) measure the size of every sexual partner the women had over the course of the study. No such thing even remotely exists. In order to be accepted you need to prove that your English is of an adequate level. You must take either an TOEFL or an IELTS test. The downside is that they are rather 서귀포출장샵 expensive. It takes passion and knowledge and should be more respected than it is. But to go straight to that, for a person, a woman, without an Ed degree or mention of pedagogy, and not, say, an ED, or program director, or CEO of a firm specializing in programming integrating pro sports sponsorship money into programs promoting educational retention and poverty reduction, or working with the UN on programming for traumatized youth through sport, or fucking fixing the NCAA. No. Consider the economics of this machine: Wallyworld sells a machine at retail for $60. The wholesale on it is $40, on arrival. Manufacturer wants their margins, so cost of making it is like $25ish. After the intro period, the interest rate will range from 10.99% to 19.99%, depending on your credit rating. n n n nIf you can pay the balance every month, Papadimitriou favors no fee cards that pay a reward. His three favorites for students are: n n n nJourney Student Rewards from Capital One, which pays 1.25% cash back of every purchase, as long as you pay the bill on time. They estimate that there are thousands of them here in the bay. It was not long ago ha long bay was named one of the new natural wonders of the world. And they are very proud here. Also they changed up how they did the music this year, having both the upstairs main ballroom and the downstairs dungeon area open. Upstairs being the usual industrial/hardcore they play and downstairs being 80 and early 90 complete with music videos playing on the walls! I fine with the music they normally play but having more 서귀포출장샵 variety to dance to is always welcome. Makes me more excited for next year!. (Privacy Policy)HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.

[sky-writes-daydreams]

How They Met Chapter 31

A/n: So this ending of this is where The path will Split off. I’m going with the original ending first. It will be a longer part so be ready for that. Then I will post Episode Skylar. Thank you all for hanging in there with me. it’s been a long ride and I can only hope it was worth it. 

@valkyrieofardyn @shigekihizashi @blackpaladinarchive @lola-mcevil13 @the-altissian-authors @the-wallflower-artist

I got into Talcott's truck in the middle and Ignis got next to me. They wanted me to go to lestallum where it was safer. The Marshall was there after all. I was a little worried about seeing him again but I was trying to think of a plan. Lestallum was really far from my goal. I guess I must have seemed edgy because after a while I felt a hand on my lower arm. I looked over and smiled.

“Yes iggy?”

“You’re shaking…. It’s ok. Cor won’t be upset with you. I rather think he’d be glad to see you there alive. As prompto said, a body bearing your resemblance was found.” I nodded then and smiled.

“It’s so weird being back…. It was like I was living in Heaven before now Ignis…. And now I’m back on earth…. It feels so different….” I could see that cute little smile he always gave then in the passing streetlights.

“I can believe that…. It’s going to be a rough adjustment… But you have friends willing to help.”

“Like you?”

“Possibly.” I smiled a bit then and felt his hand. It was even scarred.

“What happened…? Ardyn never… He didn’t tell me.” Ignis nodded then.

“He knew it would make you worry so he withheld…. It was back in altissia…. I had to save the ring from Him… And ended up putting it on…. And paid the price to save noctis.” I cringed then.

“The power blinded you as payment?”

“Yes. I’ve adjusted quite well though.”

“He’s only better than before when Aranea is around.” I jumped then as Talcott spoke. He laughed a bit then.

“Relax…”

“Sorry… But what do you mean?” I looked over then and smiled.

“Still got her number?”

“Yes. She called last week. She’s been watching caem for us. Wiz has set up there to save the chocobos.” I laughed a bit then and he smiled.

“Your son damien has been a huge help.”

“Wait…. Damien is still alive!?”

“Quite.”

“Oh you mean the blue one? Yeah. He helps us find other chocobos. He’s leader of the pack now.” I smiled then sighing.

“That idiot….. Gods I’m glad he’s ok…. I worried about him for a while but I trusted prom.” They nodded and I just relaxed while they talked and caught me up. At least till I had to lean over on Ignis and take a nap. I was so tired.

We got to lestallum and easily got past the barricade. Cor was there and chuckled as I slid out of the truck.

“There’s a hunter I never thought I’d see again. Skylar annaliese…. Terror of the desert.” I laughed then slowly walking over.

“Immortal Marshall. It’s been some time.” He nodded then and looked over.

“How?”

“He sent her out…. There’s a chance Noctis is on his way back.”

“Right… Tal have you heard…?”

“Not yet… think I should drive by?”

“Be a good idea. Take ignis back to the others. I’ll get sky a place here.” They nodded and I smiled.

“Behave.”

“Always.”

“Maybe.” Ignis said with a slight wink. I choked back a giggle then and watched them leave. I wanted to go back with them but I knew better. I needed a cover so it would be Harder for Cor to follow me. He got my shoulder then and I let him lead me further in. I saw people staring and whispering as we walked. I felt so self conscious about it. Was it that obvious that I had been with him? We got into the main part then and I saw. They had the city sectioned off. Glavies and hunters were all together here taking jobs or talking weapons. I even saw people I had never seen here before.

“We’re a center for the refugees right now. There are other spots but everything started here.”

“Wow….” Cor nodded and looked back.

“Where have you been? The boys said they saw you in altissa but then…” I smiled then.

“I went home with Ardyn. We were in nifelheim until it fell… Then somehow he got us here.” Cor nodded and sighed.

“How much do you know? About what's going on?”

“Enough to know that they’re pawns of that damn dragonian….. And that we won't get a dawn until…” He held up a hand then stopping me. I nodded then. I wasn't going to be able to say it anyway.

“Come chill with iris then…. Until things are done, you’re best off staying in lestallum. I’ll go see if there's a room open at the hotel.” I nodded then and let him lead me to iris.  She had grown up so much and was a true hunter now. She was glad to see me and happily hugged me. I hugged her back a bit stunned as Cor wandered off. I sat down near her stall and She smiled.

“You’ve barely aged… it’s hard to think of it being ten years now.”

“I know…. The only way I knew time was still moving was a clock in the library.” she laughed then and I smiled.

“Hey…. Um…. Can you tell me why people might..?”

“Stare and whisper? Well besides the fact that most of them are hunters…. You made nifelheim news. So Almost everyone knows you’re engaged to ardyn.”

“Right…. And he’s public enemy number one right now huh?”

“Sort of… those who don’t know the whole truth…. He believe he is the enemy But Talcott, Cindy, monica, and me all believe differently… We know you at the least. There’s no way you would…” I smiled then and leaned back on the wall. I looked down at the ring and sighed.

“He’s not bad… but… when the daemons inside flare up… He changes… He gets angry… Dark…. You can see it then. How the years haven’t been kind to him.” She nodded then and smiled.

“But you have been… I can see it…. You really loved him.” I nodded then holding back everything. Just thinking back to how many times I saw him like that and how a few words from me fixed him… It killed me to think that I would never get to see that grateful smile again.

“I’ve never been happier than I was by his side…. And Now… I can’t be there for him. He shut me out and…” She nodded then and smiled.

“He won’t tell you a thing… And thinks you’re safer away from them like you haven’t proven time and time again that You can handle yourself.”

“Exactly!!!” I looked at her and she had that knowing smile.

“Gladio did the same thing to me when he got back… It took a month before I got through… But seeing how you don’t have that kind of time….” She moved then and got into a box before tossing a jacket at me. I caught it looking at it confused.

“Huh?”

“Just put it on and follow me.” I nodded then and got the jacket on before following her into a tent close by.

In a matter of minutes with the help of some scissors and Makeup, Iris made me look totally different. A fresh haircut and some blush added color to my normally pale face. An outfit change later and she stepped back and nodded.

“It should be enough…” I looked in the mirror here in the tent and smiled. She had made me look almost completely different.

“I can blend in as a new glaive…”

“Exactly. Now… Head towards the entrance. There’s a another truck leaving soon!” I nodded then and hugged her tightly.

“Thank you…”

“You’d do the same for me if it was Gladio…. If you see him tho.. Keep an eye on him.”

“You know it kid.” She laughed a bit as I let go grabbing my satchel and left the tent carefully. Cor was still gone so I just headed down. I saw others walking so I tired to follow them. Then I felt someone get my shoulder. I jumped a mile high and they laughed. He was a cute looking man with braids set in his hair. He smiled then and offered a hand.

“Libertus. Main glavie for newbies here.” I smiled then and took his hand tightly.

“Sarah. Nif.”

“Serious? Damn…. Well come on then. First trip out?”

“Yeah.”

“Well you chose a good one. We’re heading to the crown city.” I nodded then and followed. A few others were in the alley as well and looked back.

“Lib! Did you hear the Rumor!?”

“What’s up now?”

“That dark huntress that kid talks about? The one who fell in love with Ardyn?”

“Yeah! Skylar!” They nodded and smiled.

“She was seen in Hammerhead.” He gave them a look then.

“No way. There’s no way she’d leave.”

“Well rumor is from the kid, She was sent away.” He sighed then shaking his head.

“Damn… She’s gonna be crushed.” They nodded then and I looked over.

“What are they talking about?”

“Oh… Well you saw on the news. The woman the chancellor was engaged to?” I nodded then.

“She’s a hunter from here in lucis. Apparently most of the guard knew her and the king did as well. The other three called her sis at times. The way the kid tells us is there’s a good chance The dawn is on it’s way if we ever see her because he and a few others… They don’t think she’d ever leave his side.”

“Well.. I mean the one time I saw them… They were really in love. I’ve been there for a while and he always seemed so sad… but the last time he was so happy next to her.” LIbertus nodded then and smiled.

“Well hey. Maybe she’ll have us help her get back in…. Not sure how the others would like that tho. She needs to be safe.” I nodded then before letting him into the back of the truck. He helped me up and I sat down across from him. I looked back as the truck started and right as we headed out the gate, I saw Cor coming running down panicked. I just had to hope to all the gods he would forgive me.

[moonraccoon-exe]

I am in love with the last thing you wrote! It was phenomenal. I love Avatar and the episode with the play is so funny. And you converted it to Final Fantasy amazingly! Now just imagine they going undercover like in that episode where Aang and the group dressed as fire nation people and Aang goes to school there. XD -Peridot

HEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, PERIDOOOOOOOT!!! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ

Thank you SO MUCH for this lovely comment, dear Peridot!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Not many people read it, and that’s okay, I understand it’s very long! But I do admit that I wish more people would have given it a go and found it funny, like you did!! Most certainly because I had LOTS of fun writing it myself, the mental images were absolutely ridiculous and I had to put it into words even if that meant re-writing the whole of the FFXV story parody style XD

I was mostly having fun with Ravus because he fits SO WELL with Zuko, so I could basically watch the ATLA episode and imagine him in Zuko’s place just FINE, and it really, truly gets SUPER RIDICULOUS and hilarious!! ｡ﾟ(TヮT)ﾟ｡

That ATLA episode is truly a gem. A classic! So really, Amontillado was GENIUS with the prompt, haha!!

Seriously, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your comment, buddy!!! I’m so happy that you gave it a go, and happy that you found it funny. Thank you as well for thinking I did good at converting it to the FFXV gang! I’m very, very happy to know you think so positively of it all, aaah. Thank you so much!! :3

ASLKFKADLGJA KLSDJAS GKLADGJKALDJF AKJD

AHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHA

AAAW MAAAAN!

To be honest I don’t quite remember that episode when Aang goes to school (at least not as freshly as I remember the Ember Island Players), but I do remember that I had LOTS of fun with it, and some visuals. 

Honestly, the idea of the FFXV good guys disguised as Nifs is already hilarious enough. I’d like to think that they could come up with NICE outfits (and let’s admit it, Ignis particularly would make a SUPER HANDSOME imperial, in white outfits and whatnot aklsdjalkgjdakgl). But the guys disguising as Nifs to go around doing stuff they REALLY SHOULDN’T BE DOING, AHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAH AH!!  ｡ﾟ(TヮT)ﾟ｡

Imagine Noctis going into a Nif school but not because they mistook him as a student that skipped school, but rather because he wanted to OMG NO, NOCTIS!

There goes the tiny thing, trying to merge among the Nif students. Dear Noctis growing bored of having nothing to do and going “HEY, in the meanwhile, I guess I’ll just get some white clothes and dye my hair blond and go check out that school FULL of imperials, what about that?”

I imagine Ignis looking at him with the best poker-face to have ever existed and in dead, long silence before just asking in a low murmur “why”.

To which Noctis, of course, replies with a shrug and a “I’m bored”.

And Ignis won’t even fight it. He stares with the same poker face at Noctis, thinking about how Noctis’ face is known by almost everyone in the world for being the heir of Lucis, how they’re in enemy territory and it’s best to just hide, that he shouldn’t be throwing himself into a place that has like 1,000 Nifs in it alone…but really Ignis just won’t fight it. Noctis will just do what he wants no matter what anyone says. Why should Ignis worry, why does he even try, he’ll just go take a hot bath and try to ignore his duty because his duty is an impossible stubborn little prick with no common sense and Ignis is so done with his shit, bye Noct, don’t forget a pen to take notes.

AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!｡ﾟ(TヮT)ﾟ｡

So there goes Noctis, with a horrible-quality blond wig to go take classes to the nearest Nif university because WHY NOT, AM I RIGHT?

Noctis starting classes and not expecting that before the class they had to recite this oath to the emperor and the empire itself so he’s just mumbling it, then gets in troubles for it XD

IGNIS AND GLADIO FAKING TO BE HIS PARENTS WHEN THEY CALL FOR PARENT-TEACHER MEETING AHAHA HAHAAH AHAHA!!!!!!

Aaawmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! THIS WOULD BE EXCELLENT.

Also gives me such a giant necessity to rewatch ATLA all over again hnngnhng. I swear, that show will NEVER get old, it’s maybe my favorite! IT’S JUST SO GOOD! 

ANYWAYS, PERIDOT!

Thank you SO MUCH again for this lovely ask!! It made me so happy to read that you liked that thing I wrote for that prompt! :3 

Also, I’m trying to catch up on your two previous asks, I’m sorry it’s taken me so long! Aaahhhhhhh

BUT YEH! Thank you for your nice comments and for the nice mental image, too, now everytime I see the ATLA guys doing something stupid I’ll think of the chocobros XD

I hope you’re having a most FANTASTIC night, Peridot! Talk to you soon, my dear friend!(ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ

[thedragontamerying]

Have I ever told you guys that I love big man Gladio Lots-of-love Amicitia? Well, I do. Like, a lot. So I had to do a special for him where we can explore more of his character that the game unfortunately never did.

There’s no distinct time for this short, but it does at least happen after Chapter 6.

Tagging @insomniasix @theyearofdiamonddogs @zoeyredbird1 @seal-pai @ffxv-ocs-unite

                                                         Legacy

The group had stopped at a haven, deciding to call it a day and set up camp for the night. It had been a long day of fighting, driving, running and general overactivity. Everyone had a collective sigh of relief when they came upon the blue sanctuary glyphs, ready for a moment to relax after a hard day. Not to mention eat; everyone’s stomachs had been growling for a while and the sight of a safe haven had only made their hunger intensify. Ignis was more than happy to rectify this, preparing a meal as soon as their gear was set. By the time they had finished dinner and were settling in the sky had been overtaken by the night. The stars and moon creating a pleasant blue light, a comfort from the creatures of the dark.

Ignis and Artemisia were cleaning up after their meal, cleaning the plates and whatever pots and pans were used as they conversed amongst themselves. Prompto was distracting himself with a round of King’s Knight, though he promised he could keep an eye on the fire at the same time. Ignis had a bucket of water at the ready just in case.

Gladiolus had dragged Noctis off for more training, despite the young man’s protests. Lately, Gladiolus has been very adamant about the new king’s combat training, carrying him off at any moment they had available. Noctis was obviously annoyed about it, usually arguing with his Shield before he caved. At the end of every sparring session though, the two would come back with sweltering bruises and drenched in sweat. Noctis would usually have the worst of it, with not only horrible bruises but with dirt all over his skin and cuts everywhere. Their sparring matches were usually more brutal than anyone else's with the way the two egged each other on, but Gladiolus wasn’t giving Noctis the recovery time that he desperately needed and Noctis’ irritation was turning into obvious frustration.

Which was why it wasn’t so surprising to see Noctis stomping his way back to the campsite, alone and fuming through his gritted teeth. He was covered head to toe in dirt and welts and had pebbles sticking to his skin. Along with his general haphazardly appearance, the bruises that were already forming on top of his healing ones hinted that this session was particularly brutal.

“Whoa buddy, you okay?” Prompto looked at his friend with concern, stepping out his way as Noctis made a beeline for the tent.

“I. Am. Done.” The beaten royal growled. “He’s insane! Before I was joking but now I really do think he’s trying to kill me.”

Ignis stopped his fuming companion before he could disappear into the tent, lightly grazing his injuries. “While I doubt that’s Gladio’s intention, I will admit that this is a bit excessive.” Noctis hissed when Ignis touched a fresh cut on his forehead. “We’ll have to disinfect these.”

Artemisia watched as the others gathered around Noctis, who continued to rightfully complain. She looked down the path that her battered friend had come from, deducting a general idea of where he left Gladiolus. Slipping away quietly from the others, she hopped down from the elevated campsite and walked into the darkened forest. Most daemons stayed as far away as possible from a haven, wanting to avoid the cleansing light of the Oracle, but Artemisia kept on guard as she searched for her companion in the night. Her hand ready to summon her crossbow at any sign of danger.

She jumped slightly when she heard a loud crash, her mind immediately thinking of what monster could be nearby. Only when she recognized the deep, baritone noises from the site did she relax. Weaving around trees, many of them covered in sharp cuts from a heavy blade, she found Gladiolus in a small clearing. A tree had been broken from the trunk and Gladiolus stood before it, his broad shoulders heaving with every deep pant from him. His back was to her but Artemisia could see the shine of sweat going down his body and strands of his hair clinging to his drenched neck.

Gladiolus was always a bit rough with training, never holding back with his opponents -- and, to a degree, that was his way of showing respect -- but even this was beyond his usual extreme. The cuts embedded in the trees were deep, the emotion behind them was obvious. He was angry.

No, he was upset.

Artemisia approached him, making sure to make some noise as to not startle him. Gladiolus stilled himself when he heard her footsteps, looking back with a frustrated stare though it softened slightly when he saw someone recognizable. He noticeably attempted to relax his posture, but the tension underneath was still obvious. He continued training, doing basic movements with his broadsword, disregarding the mess around him. “Noctis is back at camp.” Artemisia stated casually, leaning on a tree with her arms folded over her chest. Gladiolus remained silent, continuing his motions. “He looked pretty roughed up.”

“He wouldn’t if he took training more seriously...”

Artemisia rolled her eyes. Noctis, while spoiled and prone to laziness, didn’t hold back with his combat training. How could he when he had Gladiolus, who would motivate him with his challenging words, or Ignis, who would nag him to the point of action, as his partners. He could try to hide it as much as he wanted but this wasn’t post training frustrations. “He’s been putting more effort into this since Insomnia and you know that.” Artemisia exclaimed sternly. She sighed when he remained stubbornly quiet. “Why are you really upset?”

Gladiolus glanced at her from over his shoulder for a moment before turning away with a huff. “Anyone ever tell you not to analyze people all the time?”

“Anyone ever tell you that you don’t have to be the tough guy all the time?”

Gladiolus grumbled, stabbing his sword into the ground and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “Gladio, what’s going on?”

The man just stood there, heavy breathing being the only thing that passed his lips. He kept his back to her, staring ahead to the dark forest around them. He didn’t make any movement, his arms hanging limp to his sides. His breathing started to settle, slowing down to deep sighs before he went completely silent.

For a while the two remained like that, both completely still and quiet. Artemisia let out a small sigh and stared at the ground in frustration. It seemed as though he was determined to stay silent about his woes. “I should have been there…”

Artemisia looked up, surprised that he was finally opening up. Gladiolus sat down on the ground beneath him, groaning as though the weight of his troubles have traveled from his mind to his body. “I should have known what was going to happen. I should have known that the Nifs would attack.” There was some bite in his voice as he spoke about the Empire. “If someone had known ahead of time, then maybe things would be different. Maybe this goddamn war would be over! Then he’d --!” He choked, his shoulders shook as his emotions started to overwhelm him. Artemisia slowly walked over to him, her movements small and quiet, before she stopped just a bit behind him.  She resisted the urge to reach for him, to comfort him with a hug or a touch against his back, worried that if she did he would close himself off again in fear of being vulnerable.

As The King’s Shield, he was trained to think none of himself. To steel himself so that others could depend on him. To not let emotion or his own desires to get in the way of his duty. These were things that a Shield doesn’t even consider; no matter the grief or tragedy, no matter the path they find themselves on, a Shield always prioritizes their King. But how could any human live as though they are an unfeeling tool? Every expectation passed on from every generation of Amicitia said that they remained forever strong, to never fall and succumb to weakness no matter the cost. King Regis never held Clarus to such unobtainable requirements, and nor did Noctis for Gladiolus. Being a heartless weapon is impossible for someone with such passion and intelligence as Gladiolus Amicitia.

“...If I had been there to help, then maybe the King would be alive… And so would he.”

That feeling of guilt was one that Artemisia was all too familiar with, including the illusion that something would have changed if they had stayed at the Citadel. The fantasy that they would have made a difference, that they could have saved their loved ones. But she knew the  reality; they likely would have died alongside them. That’s why they were sent away. The others knew what was going to happen and they used what time was available to protect them. It was depressing and frustrating, but an understandable decision. It didn’t make the pain any better, though.

Gladiolus sighed, his breath shaky as he focused on his balled hands in his lap. “I wonder if he’s proud.” He chuckled bitterly. “His son on the run with the future king, just barely getting by and having to resort to strangers’ bounties to provide for themselves. Meanwhile, his daughter is alone in a strange place, and lo’n behold, her brother isn’t there for her either.” He was silent for moment before he sharply muttered “What an example of Amicitia greatness…”

Artemisia sat down next to him, looking at him with a hard stare. “You have always made your father proud. That has never been in question.” Gladiolus continued to focus at the ground, avoiding Artemisia’s gaze. Not wanting to push his boundaries during such a vulnerable moment, Artemisia placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. It was meant as a comforting touch of companionship, but it was also meant to draw his attention away from the voices in his head and to listen to her instead. Artemisia was all too familiar with the daemons that live in one’s mind; she knows how loud they can be.

Gladiolus remained silent but did turn his head slightly, redirecting his focus to the hand on his shoulder. “Clarus’ faith in you was never in doubt. He trusted you with everything that he had because he knew that you would always step up to the challenge, that you would always be someone that others can rely on. You and Iris, you two meant so much to him and he was proud to have you as his successor and, more importantly, his son.” Clarus’ was a lot like Gladiolus in terms of sharing deep feelings with others; a lot of things went unsaid. Despite their relationship seeming more professional than usual for a father and son, it was obvious how much Clarus loved his kids and how happy he was to see them both come so far. He never said it much in words, but the pride he had especially for Gladiolus was immense.

Gladiolus was still quiet, digesting everything that Artemisia had said. He tilted his head more, enough that his eyes were finally able to meet hers. Artemisia could see that some of the bitterness that filled his eyes had disappeared, leaving behind a glint of sadness. As much as she wanted to take that sadness away from him -- from everyone -- she knew that was something that would take time. Something that everyone will have to work on together, and on their own. “It’s not easy, I know, but we’ll find our way around everything.” She reassured, ignoring what her own dark voices were saying. “I know it doesn’t make it better, but you were exactly where you needed to be. You were here protecting Noct. Protecting us. That’s something that your father will always be proud of.” Her hand traveled from his shoulder to the middle of his back, caressing the area in small circular motions. “You should be too.”

Gladiolus’ attention remained on Artemisia for a moment before it slowly traveled back to the ground beneath them, the grass tickling their ankles as it rustled in the wind. He stared down at his hands resting in his lap, his thumbs twirling around each other. They sat there for a moment in silence before Artemisia gave one more pat to his back and stood up. “Come on, we should get back to the others before they start to worry.”

She had started to walk back the way she came before Gladiolus called out. “Hey wait,” Artemisia turned around to look back at him as he stood up. “Follow me to the car. I wanna show you something.”

Artemisia’s eyes wandered, looking off where she could hear the distant noises of creatures lurking about. “Now? Shouldn’t we wait until morning?”

“We’ll be fine. It’s just a quick trip.” He insisted, taking a couple steps in the direction of the Regalia that was parked on the road further out. “It’s something that I think you should see.”

Artemisia hesitated, every survival instinct in her demanding that they go back to the safety of the campsite instead of walking in the dark with only twenty percent of their usual five man group. She gave in though as Gladiolus continued on, jogging after him to catch up.

The two traveled through the forest, avoiding any daemons that may have been in the area. Soon they reached the Regalia -- as Gladiolus said, it was a quick walk. The car sat under a single road lamp, protected from any monsters of the night by the illuminating light. These types of anti-daemon lights were rare outside of Insomnia, and so many of them were used to protect more exposed towns or resting areas on the road. It was a shame that there weren’t more to go around, but at least it was a comfort here.

Gladiolus opened the back door where he usually sits and pulled out a small bag from under the front seat, revealing a plethora of books inside. Artemisia couldn’t help the small smile that formed on her lips at the sight. There were many things that were different between her and the man besides her, but they both shared a love for literature and it was one of the first things outside of Noctis that they bonded over. Artemisia knew that Gladiolus had brought some books to read, but she wasn’t aware that he had this many. She was going to have to see if he’d let her read some while on the road.

He dug through the bag for moment before pulling out a thick covered novel. Artemisia blinked, recognizing the cover immediately. “I found this the other night.” Gladiolus handed her the book. The cover was colored a single hue of maroon with gold embroidery on the spine. In a calligraphy type of font, the title read Asphyxiation. Right under the foreboding title was a simple line drawing of two hands, separated but within reach of each other. One hand was smaller and much more feminine, while the other masculine hand carried a bouquet of flowers that seemed to be wilting. A single petal from the bouquet was drawn falling, leading the reader’s eyes to the author’s name.

“I didn’t know that your dad wrote these kinds of books. I thought he only wrote stories for kids.”

Artemisia’s eyes welled up seeing her father’s name, Dimitrios Thanos. It had felt like an eternity since she had heard his name, even though the event that took him away from her was really not long ago. She blinked back the tears, smiling at the book in her hands. “He actually didn’t start writing children’s books until I was born.” He always went on about how she was his inspiration. “His biggest dream as a writer was to make a big murder mystery series, believe it or not.”

Gladiolus gave a tender smile. “I’m guessing this is one of them?”

Artemisia couldn’t help the small puff of laughter. “No, it’s a romance.” And one of his more cheesy ones, in her opinion. Her father was always a fan of showing off his vocabulary, which usually led to a lot of hyperboles and eccentric titles. “He never admitted it, but I think he enjoyed writing romance the most. He always seemed to have more fun with them.” She leaned against the trunk of the car, opening the hard covered book.

Gladiolus stood next to her, imitating her position against the car as he spoke softly, “What’s it about?”

Artemisia sniffed, feeling her repressed grief starting to surface. “Heh, my dad was such a romantic at heart… I’m pretty sure every romance he wrote was about him and my mom. Though Mom always said that he exaggerated a lot in these stories.” She flipped to the dedication page.

To my best friend and the love of my life, Sotiria. May this be only one chapter in the story that is our life together.

“I-I,” Artemisia choked back the whimper that tried to escape her, quickly wiping away a threatening tear from the corner of her eye. She cleared her throat before continuing. “I think he wrote this when…”

She voice trailed off when she went to the back cover. There, just above the Introduction to the author summary, was a picture of both her mother and father. They were both a bit younger in the picture; her father’s hair was still too short to be tied back in his usual ponytail, and her mother’s face was devoid of all the stress lines by her eyes, but they looked just as happy as she remembered them to be. And in the middle of them, being cradled by both of their supporting and comforting arms, was a small baby with a tuft of dark red hair.

The photographers for these books were always confused when Dad insisted that Mom and I be included in them, but he always got his way. He said that his greatest inspirations had to be given credit with him. Mom would always fuss about how she wasn’t picture perfect, and that would just turn into a overly sweet love fest from the two of them as Dad would convince her to be in the shot. I remember thinking it was kind of annoying when he would put me in the photos… I didn’t want to sit still when I could be doing something more exciting. But Dad would put me on his knee and would tickle me until I faced hurt from laughing so much and then -- Why is it wet all of a sudden?

Her thoughts -- I thought I was talking? -- stopped when Artemisia realized that there were streams of tears escaping from her eyes, trailing down her face and dripping on to the tightly held book. She could feel her hands shaking as they gripped the book so close, as though it would grow wings and fly away.

“Ah!” She took off her glasses and frantically wiped her eyes in an attempt to stop crying. She was suppose to comforting Gladiolus through his mourning; she couldn’t be breaking down like this. “I-I’m sorry, I d-didn’t--”

She was interrupted when she was suddenly engulfed in warmth. She felt Gladiolus’ hand against her shoulder, bringing her closer to him in a small hug. His hold was firm and soothing but gentle enough to move, giving her enough space to move away if she wanted. Artemisia was motionless against his chest, hearing the beat of his heart against her ear, before she felt liquid dripping on top of her head.

“I know,” Gladiolus said, his voice feint and restrained, “I do too.”

His voice broke the dam that held her back. Artemisia relaxed against him as she let her tears pour out, wrapping her arms around Gladiolus and clutching the fabric against his back like a lifeline. She could feel his shirt become damp as she smothered herself against him, her sobbing vibrating against him. He in turn had wrapped his other arm around her and had moved his hand from her shoulder to the back of her head. He rested his forehead against the top of her head, squeezing her closer to him, as though he could guard them from their tragic memories.

This was a sadness that will need work. It is something that each and every one of them will need to come to peace with. In the end, it is something that only the passage of time will help heal and even then it will leave a deep scar. But finding comfort in each other and sharing in that vulnerability may make the healing bearable.

[nanashi1869]

🌼Flowers for my wounds🌸

(@kondo-hijikata @liuet in case you feel like reading it? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )

~Yes, woo what a surprise, a long rant about the Shinsengumi again, how original Nashi. ~

Why thank you, dear reader ;) In all seriousness though, all the previous rants I made were spoiler free and it made me ridiculously furious that I held back all the salt and awe I have in me just for the sake of not spoiling any potential newcomers. I’ve covered some of this in vague posts hundreds of times, but today I will break that habit, I will spoil this to hell and back and enjoy it just as much.  

You've been warned.

PS: I’m doing this entirely based on my memory and some snippets I’ve seen one time too many for my own good. Inaccuracies are bound to happen. 

As always, what better way to begin than with the infamous episode 33...

I'm kidding, today I'm starting by digging into the post office. As with the usual routine the theme to talk about with this wreck is - guilt. Guilt over losing money in a gamble like a complete fool, guilt over buying a book and being too big of a shit (with rather solid arguments) to admit it, guilt over making rules you can't break even though going through the consequences once was enough to make you regret it for the next few miserable years... (Yes I lied, inadvertently everything comes back to the foolish daffodils). But let's talk about our pure accountant who is one 'i' short of being nothing but cute. Let's talk about the edge they put us on a bit before the main event took place, when the (drama version) of the idiot trio tore that scroll. Never forget that could have been the reason for all our tears, yet in the end it still had to be some more complex scheme. An act with the convict being an innocent man and the true criminal roaming free, while Toshi had all the time in the world to steep in deep, raging self-denial over the legitimacy of his past actions and life choices, all the while ending up the scapegoat to whom all the anger can be directed towards. The subtlety with which we were deceived to think the "actual events" of episode 38 were to play out earlier is truly commendable. But with this drama nothing is ever easy. You get to know a new character, someone moves a chess piece and then instead of moving forward everything takes a step back and lets you seethe with nervousness because, without realizing, you've been tricked and have to wait for all the heartbreak a while longer. Takeda's resolve to keep to his decision, regardless of consequences, was in his eyes, completely justified. It did make sense to try and prevent Kano from buying the book for Ito in order to protect the group from his growing power, the action simply failed due to Toshi's own greed after it. Kawai innocently, perhaps naively, thought lending money more than once would not be punished in hopes his friends would be saved from harm. It is his kindnesses that is ultimately his doom and it is the unexpected, usually harmless twists in life that turn it into a spiral with no point of return. Takeda's following quest for redemption ends up being just as pointless as Kawai’s death - he is killed in an instant of hate directed at him, where the assailants are unaware of his reasoning for the justification of his friend's demise. The book too, loses value as Ito gets his own copy later on.

Most, if not all, tragedies in this drama happen because someone is trying to protect or shield - and idea, a person. Toshi's friends die because he must protect the order of the group for Kat-chan, Yamanami and Akesato have a rift in their final moments because they cannot be honest (likewise Souji and Hide), Kat-chan's relationship with Tsune suffers because he lies about Miyuki, Nagakura and the others write the petition to shield the group from Toshi and Kat-chan's (propensity) ego. The pattern is pretty clear.

I'm going to loop back to the script for just a second - watching this drama knowing what will happens adds a thrill, it makes you question when an event will take place even though you know the chronological sequence, because the “mini-arc” leading up to it has to be completed first and the tension must be just right. How long that is depends on the episode and event of course. But each arc is a stepping stone to a new point of no return.

I think, since I've mentioned him, I'll take a bit to talk about Ito as well. I love, love, love the confrontation Kondo and Ito have right before his death. It's absolutely stunning despite being simplistic in nature, because what Kondo states is in fact the very obvious truth and in no way some overly wise notion of the situation. However, it's that simplicity (to me) that adds to the charm of the scene. If you expected some courageous battle of wits, you might have been sourly disappointment, but otherwise - see the pattern? - what brings people to their knees is once again the basic things in life. Kondo’s sincerity, the fact that life is and always will be (mostly) separated into black and white for them. Farmers and samurai, poor and rich - they fit in a narrow grey zone, yet even there they are bullied, pushed away to leave. It's everything complex they're trying to achieve being haunted by little things. It's the desire and determination to be something big and more buried into the ground by the small things they were raised with, holding them back.

Ah, it’s about time this goo got to the good part.

No, it’s still not episode 33. Firstly because I’m sure everyone is tired of my whining about it and secondly because I like to leave best (in my opinion) for last.

This is for our Gargoyle and Tofu. Just imagine, for a second imagine that final hug again and bathe in it, then come back to me, okay? The wedding rings champagne caps and Toshi’s little grimace when he tries to convince himself ‘it’s not over yet’. (At this point I would just like to praise Mitani again for giving us closure with that hug, unlike some other shows I watch *side eyes knife pile*). I’m really glad the two of them got to hug it out before the whole deal blew up. Everytime a ‘Kat-channn’ or ‘Tossshii’ came around my heart melted a bit. THE DYNAMIC IS SO GOOD. (I get so, so jealous each time I see well written relationships between two guys. Doesn’t matter if it’s boyfriends/best friends/would-die-for-you combined or only one of these included. (*cough* NIF & Bleach for one *cough*) I don’t even know what to say! We all know Toshi would sacrifice the world for Kat-chan. We all know Kat-chan trusts him above all else. The guilt one feels and the content of the other having come so far together and being such a power combo…*noises*

I don’t even know how to put this.... (@kondo-hijikata help this is your expertise)

I’m going to move on to some more feathery stuff because I’m really at a loss about these two (analysing NIF’s LC/MCS has engraved so deep into me it’s ruined my perception for everyone else, I apologize).

Right, feathers…

I wrote about Serizawa and his issue of not being able to get over his “I’m a bad guy, therefore I must act like it” complex...somewhere before. I can’t find it, but I’m very sure that was once a thing. I know most people hate the man with a burning passion and part of me probably does too, yet the way he is presented also makes him fascinating, like he is very self-aware but cannot change anything about that (this is similar to Toshi’s “indifference” (we all know he actually cares) of his path to become the villain - he knows that what he is doing is morally wrong and has no intention of stopping). I feel like in the end both of them continued with “bad guy” roles simply because they were too far down that road to stop.

I would analyse Serizawa’s character more, but I honestly don’t remember much anymore. I did want to mention this though.  Toshi on the other hand…feels like someone who desperately wishes to rage quit everything, but keeps on going out of pure spite.

And since I’m speaking of our beloved vice-commander - one thing that opisses me off is that Kotetsu got mentioned, but the whole wow deal with Kanesada got dropped out, even in the movie. *cue bawling over that Katsugeki finale* I was hoping for that when Tetsu showed up dammit!

Am I tiring you yet? Come, sit down, have some tea Gen-san made because he is totally ok and alive an happy and you cannot convince me otherwise because the hugging thing did not happen. Period.

…

Lastly, because my mind is going blank this is quite long - the bane of my existence and the one thing (to me) more cursed than Ryoma himself. (I’m lying PMK upped this x100000 and I am not over that either. I’ll confess immediately I did not read the whole thing yet but this, this haunts me).

This stupid episode with it’s stupid ending and it’s stupid decisions. *insert me yelling about rice balls on the Mibugishiden review post* I mean what is it with this drama and ending brutally sad episodes with (unintentionally?) funny moments? *cue Toshi’s squeaky crying* I have covered my thoughts about Akesato here and here though and since that essentially recaps everything I want to say, I won’t repeat myself. (Thought you’d have to read through 5 more pages of me screaming? I did too before I forgot what I wanted to say.)

I might make a part 2 someday, if I think of more to say, but for now, I’m done, leaving you with this stressful mess. Feel free to add your own opinions, I’m really curious about what the rest of you think.

~Nashi out~

[abadpoetwithdreams]

Nirvana in Fire Episode 6 Reaction

I have now mostly adjusted back to my current timezone after all that globetrotting, so I can use some free time to watch NiF instead of just sleeping. Yay!

Episode 6 starts–once again–exactly where we left off last time. At this point I should accept this as the given startpoint for every episode, but it also means I’m sort of worried that they’ll throw me for a loop and start an episode with a flashback or time jump or something just to mess with me at some point. Consort Yue is getting her comeuppance and I’m totally fine with revisiting that moment, obviously. But then the Emperor asks Jing Do you know what you did wrong? and I’m just oh, wait, no, I didn’t want to see this. That’s right. I was outraged when I finished the last episode, not happy. Time to see what Jing has to reply, I guess.

(Also: another scene with lots of Prince Jing close ups, another scene where I keep getting distracted by eyebrow envy. Seriously. From now on just assume that whenever there’s a close up on Wang Kai’s face I’m feeling a double-pang of jealousy and admiration.)

To my disappointment but also relief, Jing does not answer with “nothing.” Instead, he says he did wrong in holding the Crown Prince at swordpoint. Which, eh, debatable, but it looks like that’s the answer the Emperor was looking for. He asks Jing how did he know to go into Zhaoren Palace to save Ni Huang, when he has never gone that way before? Jing, bless his heart, freezes up and you can see how hard he’s thinking, haha. He can’t say who told him–I’m unclear if he knows the word came from Mei Chang Su or if he just thinks it was Meng, but regardless he can’t namedrop because the Emperor will then want to question THAT person, plus he doesn’t want anyone to know that he and Chang Su are in league. At the same time, though, this is Jing. There’s no way he can come up with a convincing lie on the spot like this. He’s stuck.

But just then: Prince Yu to the rescue! Wait, what?? Yep, our favourite moustacheless Jerk Prince has arrived with his usual flair to worm his way into the narrative in the best light possible. So THAT is what Mei Chang Su was doing last episode! He was sending Yu to save Jing before Jing even went to save Ni Huang, lololol he knows Jing so well. I’m in love with how far ahead this man thinks. His whole mind is a chessboard. It speaks to a rather unhealthy level of singleminded obsession and focused energy, but never mind that for now; let’s just bask in his brilliance.

The Emperor somewhat impatiently asks Yu what he is here for this time (aha he really is just done with this whole afternoon isn’t he? Well, good. I hope this gives you a headache, Emperor). In response, Yu tells the Emperor that HE is the one who told Jing to go save Ni Huang. HAAAAA.

This is such a clever move! Of course Yu will be eager to help Jing out here because Chang Su will have presented it as a chance for him to look good in the Emperor’s eyes, ESPECIALLY in contrast to the disgraced Crown Prince (aka moustache Jerk Prince), and even more, now he’s probably going to feel like Jing owes him something. But this is also the perfect cover for Jing, aka the prince Chang Su is ACTUALLY looking out for. I love it. But it’s a very good thing that no one was looking at Jing’s face when Yu said that, because this boy has no poker face whatsoever and his utter confusion and surprise is sooooo obvious, lolll.

Ni Huang’s skeptical-dagger sideeye is much more subtle. I say this every episode recap, but: be more like Ni Huang, Jing.

The Emperor demands details, and Yu very confidently tells this whole story of how he was on his way to visit his mother (filial piety: check!), and his route took him past Zhaoren palace where he noticed the Crown Prince, because how could he not notice such an important personage (respect to his higher ranking brother: check!), and the Crown Prince was letting Sima Lei into the palace. He thought it inappropriate to let an official into the palace (ooh, he’s so conscientious about propriety! Check!) so he had his men investigate and when they reported Ni Huang was also there, he thought that strange and sent for Jingyan. As the Emperor points out, this keen observation and quick putting-together of all the clues also makes Yu look very intelligent. UGH Prince Yu must be grinning like a cat on the inside. Jing looks almost as impressed as the Emperor as he listens to this rigamarole, albeit he also looks increasingly disgusted. Control your beautiful face, Jingyan.

The Emperor looks very approving of his sneaky son, but also wants to know why Yu chose to send Jing in instead of going himself? Yu smoothly answers that he thought it would be wrong of him to enter the palace, considering it is heavily guarded so he would have to take his own guards with him, too. Jing happened to walk by, so that’s why he picked Jing to go instead. Since Jing is a prince, it would be within his rights to go in, and he could just apologize if nothing was amiss and be on his way. I guess as a lesser ranked prince and one who is highly skilled in martial arts as well, his entering the palace alone wouldn’t be as aggressive and dangerous an act as Yu entering accompanied by armed men.

Huh, says the Emperor, I’m surprised you just obeyed Prince Yu and went, Jing. You’re usually not so obedient. (Which made me instantly envision how this actual scenario would really go down, preferably along the lines of

(Yu: Hey, Jing Yan, do me a favor, I need you to go into Zhaoren palace and–)

(Jing: Do it yourself. *doesnt break stride*)

Jing has caught on to the ploy by now, thank heaven for small mercies, and says since this concerned Ni Huang’s safety, he did not have the luxury of ignoring his brother’s order, lol. Yu pipes up and praises Jing for acting so bravely and saving Ni Huang in time, and then goes one step further and accepts the blame for threatening the life of the Crown Prince, saying he himself did not hold the sword, but Jing was only there under his orders, so it’s his fault really. If the Emperor plans on punishing Jing, then Yu demands that he also share that punishment, because that is only fair. Aw, what a noble, righteous, good prince this Yu is NOPE WAIT A SECOND HE’S NOT GOOD HE’S JUST GOOD AT LYING AND PLAYING HIS CARDS RIGHT. I see you, Yu, I seeee youuuu.

The Emperor chuckles, good humor restored, and accepts this whole story, wryly saying that well, he does know Yu keeps close watch on the Crown Prince, after all. Sanctimonious Prince Yu humbly responds that of course he does: the Crown Prince is both his superior in rank AND his older brother! He looks up to him and strives always to follow in his footsteps and he always has! Enough of such talk, the Emperor cuts him off, saying what we are all thinking. He knows this last, at least, is utter hogwash, but he also decides to believe the rest of Yu’s story. While this doesn’t excuse Jing for his crime (at this, both Ni Huang and Yu interrupt to beg that Jing be shown clemency, which, aw (even if Yu is just doing this for himself)), the gracious Emperor will allow the merit of his good deed in saving Ni Huang to cancel out whatever punishment he earned. How nice.

Prince Yu, however, gets rewarded with pearls and brocade and all sorts of fancy riches as well as his father’s praise, so that’s unfair. We get to see both Yu and Jing make deep bows and thank their dad, but we sadly don’t see the Crown Prince’s face when Yu gets all that reward, because he must be losing his MIND. Also Ni Huang doesn’t look that pleased, but she is composed nonetheless. The Empress looks VERY pleased. She came out of this best: her hated rival was shamed and punished and demoted, her son earned himself so many brownie points, AND she got to watch both of these events go down. It’s just a really good day for her.

While Jing is storming away from the palace–he doesn’t look more grumpy than usual, he just always looks like he’s storming places when he walks–Ni Huang chases after him.

She tells him he left too quickly; she hadn’t even finished thanking Prince Yu when Jing was already gone! I don’t blame him; I’d want to get out of there as fast as I could, too. But then she continues and tells Jing that she knows that Yu was lying; she knows he didn’t send Jing to save her. Did Mister Su send you? she asks, a little self-consciously; she does not meet Jing’s eyes as she asks the question. Hey hey heyyyyyy

What does Su have do do with anything? Jing asks, looking truly perplexed. Commander General Meng was the one who approached me. (Ok, so I guess our poor brave Prince really did have no idea Su was involved. Oh, precious.) (Also the blessed people who do the music for this show had a chime or somesuch instrument ring really loudly as he said this and started talking it out, it was like an audible version of a lightbulb suddenly clicking on as he starts to work things out, I laughed)

He says he was skeptical, but hey, he trusts Meng and since the order concerned Ni Huang’s safety, he figured better safe than sorry. Why would she think Su had anything to do with it? Ni Huang looks taken aback, then disappointed, then a little irritated but mostly determined. Well, she says, I clearly have some questions for Meng.

(Uh oh, Meng. Start running now. Or at least I hope you have been coached on what to tell her. I feel like you aren’t really up to the task of improvising a convincing cover story that would be good enough to fool the Princess.)

Meanwhile, Prince Yu and his mother are enjoying a celebratory Drink and Gloat together. As one does, when your political, romantic, and fraternal rivals all shoot themselves in the foot on the same day, right in front of you. The Empress gleefully congratulates her snakey son. Said snakey son responds by grinning and basically saying Hey, mom, just in case you thought I was being nice? I wasn’t. I was being sneaky. Just thought you should know. Which is to say, he tells her how he wasn’t really defending Jing, he was just stealing all the credit for Jing’s bravery and good deed, and he actually had nothing to do with saving Ni Huang at all. This probably makes her even more proud, sighhhh. Something I do like about this show is what mama’s boys these rival Princes are, even while being genuinely terrible human beings. Prince Yu is reeeally basking in his mother’s praise.

Yu points out an additional bonus he gained that I hadn’t considered until now: Ni Huang might not have considered herself indebted to the Empress for her intervening, since the Empress seemingly showed up by chance. Ni Huang would probably have felt grateful towards Jing instead, because, duh. But by taking credit for sending Jing in the first place, Prince Yu has ensured that Ni Huang has ended up indebted to him after all, in addition to Jing also owing him now. Verrrrry impressive. Sure enough, the Empress LOVES this, but then she stops to ask: Yu might have taken credit for sending Jing, but since he didn’t actually do it–what is the real reason for Jing being in Zhaoren palace?

Yu flashes back to his meeting with Mei Chang Su, where Su told him where to go and what to do. Thinking out loud, in some awe, Yu remarks that he isn’t the biggest winner of the day after all; when the Empress asks what he means, he explains: Mei Chang Su was the real winner of the day. He orchestrated everything, on such scant evidence. Yu really, really, REALLY wants Mr. Divine Talent on his team now. The man is just so brilliant! (Yes he is, Yu. More than you know.)

While this is happening, Ni Huang has tracked down Meng, with Jing tagging along. She evidently piqued his curiosity. Meng has this wonderful “oh no” face when he greets them; he’s smiling but also he definitely knows he’s about to be grilled. And thus begins the Lang Ya Bang Sherlock Holmes AU, starring Princess Ni Huang as Holmes and Prince Jing as her silent, stalwart Watson. Under questioning, Meng tries his darndest but ends up folding extremely quickly, loll. Meng tries saying he got news that Sima Lei entered the palace because he’s a Commander General responsible for the Emperor’s safety, he knows about stuff like that! But even Jing CLEARLY isn’t buying that. Ni Huang very sweetly marvels at how incredibly insightful and quick thinking Meng is (she is smugly triumphant as she says this because she knows all three of them know that isn’t Meng at all lolol her happy expression and lifting of her chin is so cute) and he immediately gives up the ruse because he’s honest and knows that she has him.

The trio move their conversation inside where Meng presumably confesses that the rescue was all Mei Chang Su’s doing. Jing is skeptical about how Mei Chang Su could deduce Ni Huang’s peril so accurately from so little information. Meng opens his mouth to answer, and looks surprised when Ni Huang answers first, and of course she isn’t speaking from any Su Script: she’s speaking for herself. She tells Jing about how she has evidence that Su knew something was wrong even before Sima Lei arrived: Mei Chang Su had warned her himself to be wary of the harem. Jing does NOT look happy at this revelation. Ni Huang is not that happy either, to be honest, because she has to make certain to present Yu with a lavish gift and abundant thanks the next day, but she is so SURE that it is Su she should really be thanking.

Meng asks why Ni Huang must thank Yu when it’s so obvious he had nothing to do with it and was merely out to steal glory? Oh, Meng, you innocent. Ni Huang reminds him that, well, Yu does technically deserve thanks because he prevented Jing from being punished–no matter how selfish his motives were–but she also reminds him that the Crown Prince, though somewhat disgraced, is still the Heir and still possesses all the power that entails. If she is abundantly thankful to Prince Yu and ignores Jing, then it is less likely that the humiliated Crown Prince will target Jing and persecute him for his role in Consort Yue’s downfall, and more likely the Crown Prince will focus his hatred instead on Yu–who, let’s face it, has already been established as his hated rival, so this ploy should work to focus his rage. She’s using her social duty to trick the feuding Princes into keeping their blinders on and attacking only each other, forgetting Jing. Awwww, she’s protecting our Jingyan, I’m so proud. Jing (who has been looking pretty deep in thought this whole time) looks a little self-conscious, I think. I’m betting he hadn’t stopped to consider he might be targeted by the Crown Prince.

(Sidenote: Wang Kai’s face is very distracting in this scene, because the lighting is juuuuust right for shining off his carefully highlighted cheekbones and his skin is very shiny here like good lord lol. He’s just so beautiful it’s hard to concentrate on what he’s saying. It’s probably a good thing that Jing doesn’t smile very much in this show so far, because if he ever did look genuinely happy I don’t think I could handle it on an emotional level.)

Jing remarks that Prince Yu had seemed very pleased. Understatement, much? Ni Huang says of course he was pleased! She lays out all the reasons why Yu is winning at life right now, and then pauses: Yu must have a wonderfully clever mentor, she says, slowly. The look of sudden dawning disgust on Jing’s face is glorious to behold. He is DEFINITELY NOT happy. Wow, he says, this mentor really IS something, isn’t he. He’s causing so much chaos in the palace; none of us, seemingly, can escape his machinations. He’s playing ALL of us. Meng looks really unhappy to hear Jing talk so coldly about Mei Chang Su, but of course he can’t say anything in our favourite plotting scholar’s defense! Aaaand fade to black. I have a hunch that Jing is suddenly not feeling so thankful about the whole saving of the slave kid thing.

Next scene, after an undetermined jump in time (I’m guessing it’s the same day since Jing is wearing the exact same outfit, but then again maybe he just likes that outfit idk), begins with Jing approaching Mei Chang Su. Uh oh.

(I want to take a moment here to compliment the lighting on this show because it’s always so clear and cold, there’s always this natural-frozen-winter lighting on everything and it’s wonderfully atmospheric and gorgeous to look at. Ok carry on.)

Su bows politely because he’s so polite and proper always (pfft) and asks why Jing summoned him during bad weather (it’s on the cusp of a rainstorm apparently? Considering that Mei Chang Su is ill and everyone’s usually making such a fuss about him being out in the cold and damp, this is yet ANOTHER red flag about just how Not Happy Jing is. Jing does take an instant to look a little guilty, but then shakes it off because he’s still righteously angry.

(Hey Lin Shu, where’s your furs, you brat? Somewhere Fei Liu is fuming for sure.)

Your Highness seems angry, says Su. Jing gives him this wonderful “oh DO i?” deadpan glare, and then has out with it: He wants to know if Chang Su is happy with how the Ni Huang crisis turns out. The heavy implication is that Jing thinks Su orchestrated the whole thing, setting up Ni Huang so that Jing would have to save her, so that Jing would thereby earn her powerful family’s loyalty and also the Crown Prince would be destabilized–all this makes sense from a standpoint of cold logic, of course, and Prince Yu would definitely have arranged something like this if he could. We know as the audience that this isn’t actually what was going on, but then again Su DID turn the situation to his advantage. He did gamble somewhat with Ni Huang’s safety. But I’m certain that was not deliberate on his part: remember he did try to tell her not to visit the palace, she just ignored him.

Anyway, Jing is FURIOUS about this. He tells Su that in future, he demands that Su tell him BEFORE something like this happens. He doesn’t want to be Su’s pawn if they are truly collaborating to put Jing on the throne. If Su is going to be playing games with good people’s lives to attain his endgame, then Jing wants to know about it in advance or the deal between them is done. In fact, he’s going to take it even further and say Su is not ALLOWED to use good people like that, period. Jing says he does not want people like Ni Huang to end up as “stepping stones to my success,” which, awwww. HE IS SO GOOD. He is also SO ILL-SUITED TO THESE POLITICS.

Su listens to all this without interrupting or defending himself, but then he just says he did not expect Jing to think this of him and awwww he’s so sad. Jing starts telling Su about how good Ni Huang is and how she isn’t one of the bad people in court, one of the people squabbling for power; she’s sacrificed her life to the military to protect her people, she deserves better than to be a pawn in a strategist’s scummy games. Poor Su looks pretty haunted for this entire speech, but then he says he understands: Your highness is here today to set the rules.

(The way the power dynamic is constantly fluctuating between these two is fascinating, btw. Jing rightly saw in the Ni Huang case how Su is controlling the action, so now here he comes to control Su. We the audience know that Su can’t reeeeeally be controlled. But we shall see how it goes moving forward, I guess.)

Then there’s a tiny scene basically letting us know that the Empress is using all her influence to make Consort Yue’s life hell, but I don’t have much to say about that because this Mei Chang Su and Jing scene is THE scene of the episode and maybe even the entire show so far. What we get here is the most important monologue Jing has had so far, where he really tells both us and Su exactly who he is (here copied out in full, because it is That Important):

I have met many strategists. I have witnessed the most despicable and malicious acts they performed. The stabs in the back; not even the strongest person could withstand them. My eldest brother. My best friend. Both of them died from such unscrupulous schemes. I will not have them see me become a ruthless person who will stop at nothing. I don’t ask that you understand what it means to be iron-willed and tough in battle. But there are some people who mustn’t be hurt and some methods that mustn’t be used. If you can’t even respect those warriors who risk their lives in battle, then I, Xiao Jing Yan, will never associate myself with you.

THERE’S SO MUCH TO UNPACK HERE GUYS BUT IM TOO BUSY CRYING.

1. Jing hates strategists. Now confirmed that he hates them because he saw what they did to the people he loved best. Now confirmed that his disgust for Su stems from his anger at what people like Su did to Shu who is Su and just STOP SHOW STOP

2. Mysterious Eldest Brother Qi is mentioned yet again. When will we find out exactly what happened twelve years ago. Whennnn.

3. Hard to imagine a Jing who actually liked one of his brothers, this is very sad

4. Jing has felt all this time that he has to live up to his dead brother and dead friend’s expectations of him, he’s been haunting himself with their judgemental ghosts all these years so even if Su gives him a way to avenge them by taking the throne himself he won’t let it be at the cost of becoming that thing that killed them to begin with good GRIEF Jing *takes a moment to cry a little more*

5. Jing of course assumes that Su does not understand the martial way of life and code of honor because he’s just a scholar strategist whose battlefield is the political arena (aka he’s manipulative trash) but also we know he is So Wrong and if he just stopped being angry a moment and really looked at Su’s face while he’s telling him this maybe he’d have second thoughts because Su looks CRUSHED

6. LIN SHU PLS JUST TELL JING WHO YOU ARE AND GRAB NI HUANG AND MENG AND JUST LEAVE JUST FIND A NICE HIDEAWAY SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU CAN BE HAPPY TOGETHER also Jingmum and Mu can come too just stop hiding and be safe and be happy look how broken Jing is just UGHHH

7. (Also since our Lin Shu is, of course, going to stay pretending to be Mei Chang Su, then even if he swears transparency to Jing it’s still a lie. Even if he brings Jing in on his plans in future, Jing is STILL just a pawn being played. I hate this I hate this I love this I hate this)

The drama knows we need some breathing space and time to restock our tissue boxes after that scene, so now we have another Empress scene, this time her talking with Prince Yu again.

I forget if we had explicit confirmation before that Yu is only the Empress’ adopted son, not her birth son (though I guess the fact that he isn’t the heir is sort of a giveaway), but she clearly says it here. I wonder if he was evil even before she adopted him or if he only developed all his snakey traits after. The Empress asks about Jing, and Yu says Jing left quietly and hasn’t said anything about Yu stealing credit, so they disregard him as a threat, figuring if he didn’t flare up angrily about it now, then he’s not going to ever bring it up again. The Empress apologizes for not managing to make her son the Heir when he’s so superior to the Crown Prince; Yu says that’s fine, everyone knows the Emperor favors the Consort anyway so it made sense he’d pick her son as heir. I don’t see how this should make the Empress feel better, but ok Yu.

The scheming mom and son team decide they have to take advantage of Consort Yue’s disgrace and house arrest (oh yeah, the Empress is trying to make sure no palace news reaches her rival too) to supplant the Crown Prince and replace him with Yu. Yu says here he feels very confident this will work, especially because he knows now that the Divine Talent is on his side.

Back to Jing and Su! Su agrees to Jing’s terms, but then asks if he can lay down some rules of his own. Jing looks grumpy, naturally, but concedes by sitting down with Su at table (previously he was still stubbornly standing).

(Sidenote: THE MUSIC T_T)

Su tells Jing he won’t cross the boundaries Jing has set, but also: they’re up against the Crown Prince and Prince Yu. If they are to win against those two, then Jing WILL have to be willing to be more ruthless than them. In addition, since Jing and Su are a TEAM, there should be no more secrets between them (OH THAT’S RICH). Secrets like … Ting Sheng, for example.

Uh, Ting Sheng? What could possibly be secret about Ting Sheng? Jing asks in the least innocent way possible. (Sidenote: remember what I said about how the power is constantly being passed back and forth between these two? Here comes Mei Chang Su taking it back after that verbal and moral drubbing from Jing.)

Su isn’t holding back: I’m talking about his real identity, he says. Jing looks guilty and distressed at this development, then confesses: this is his only secret, the only thing he will not speak of. How did Su figure it out? Su takes some pity on him and doesn’t say “because you are THE worst liar ever, Jingyan”; he sidesteps and says that isn’t important. What IS important is he had this knowledge and didn’t use it against Jing. HE IS ON JING’S SIDE. TRUST HIM. Also, Jing NEEDS him on his side, because once they can’t stay under the radar with their grab for the throne anymore, both the Crown Prince AND Yu will go after Jing, and does Jing think he could survive that without Mei Chang Su’s help? Nope, didn’t think so.

Jing concedes this but then starts reiterating that still, there are good people in court who are not involved in politics and who he does not want drawn into this, and THIS time Su does cut him off, saying that it doesn’t matter: he WILL still use those who can be used to further Jing’s rise in power. Jing looks taken aback at this. But Su continues, saying that though he will use people, he will do his best not to hurt them. That’s the best he can promise. I think this honesty and openness gets through to Jing a little; it’s a compromise anyway and it comes across as Su not trying to lie to him and not WANTING to hurt people, or at least not being entirely dispassionate about it. Jing nods and rises, looking very conflicted, and then pauses as he leaves.

I still have to thank you, he says, for rescuing Ting Sheng. Then he walks out. So I guess he still has to thank him. Hm.

Next scene: FINALLY MY GOOD PURE BOYS ARE BACK. Their arrival is well-timed because after all that angst I am so emotionally exhausted and they revive me.

“Hey, Jing Rui, isn’t that man who just went by your brother Zhou Qing Yao?” OK NEVER MIND THIS DOESNT MAKE ME FEEL ANY HAPPIER AT ALL

Jing Rui says it’s impossible that Yu Jin saw his brother; his brother couldn’t have returned home without Jing Rui being notified! Guys, I have such a bad feeling about this. Such a bad feeling. Even the music is like “UH OH WATCH OUT.”

But our two favourite Good Besties shrug it off and decide to visit Mei Chang Su. Apparently he’s started looking for a house of his own (remember he’s still living on the Marquis’ property atm)? Hm. There must be a Reason for this.

Cut to–sure enough–Zhou Qing Yao talking with the Marquis. He’s reporting on Xia Dong, the intelligence woman who dislikes Jing and who was sent to investigate that Duke of Qing from episode like one or two. It’s been a while. He says she’s found enough evidence that the Duke is sunk if she gets back to the capitol to report. This is all well and good, because the Marquis wants Prince Yu weakened, but Xia Dong also found out stuff that could implicate the Marquis–she’s just too good at her job. (She also looks amazing while riding across that river with her hood up, I love deep dramatic hoods.)

Xie Bi, Jing Rui’s brother and the Marquis’ son, has all this time been supporting Prince Yu. He, Jing Rui, and everyone think that while he has taken a political side, his father is noble and neutral. In actuality, though, the Marquis supports the Crown Prince. This way the family wins no matter which prince ultimately takes the throne! But Xia Dong now has evidence that will prove the Marquis supports the Crown Prince. So he tells his aghast son in law basically that he’s arranging to have Xia Dong killed before she gets back to court. WELP

Cut to nighttime at a brothel, yayyy. That’s a sarcastic yay. The subtitles say it’s called Red Sleeves Brothel but also showed subtitles for Heavenly Music House, so is the brothel near the music house or are they connected or what. I thiiiink they’re just near each other???? But in the Red Sleeves Brothel (I think) we find Yu’s strategist, that woman with the red eyeliner! She reads and then burns a note that apparently informed her of Duke of Qing’s situation. She admits she can do nothing for him now and wonders aloud what the Divine Talent could do. Is she jealous? I think she is, a bit.

Cut to what is probably the next day, and Jing Rui meets with his Marquis dad who apparently summoned him. The Marquis inquires about how Mei Chang Su is doing and exhorts Jing Rui to keep looking after him well. Jing Rui says he will, but also that Su is looking into moving out into a house of his own. He looks so sad when he says this, awwwww, no. Don’t feel bad, Jing Rui! The Marquis meanwhile looks alarmed. He tells Jing Rui to keep him updated on if Su needs anything.

Cut to Jing Rui and Yu Jin hanging out at a riverbank, where Jing Rui looks like he’s kind of sulky and moody but more importantly HIS HAIR IS DOWN. I like loose-hair Jing Rui! Anyway, Yu Jin asks him why they’re there. Jing Rui says he just wanted to get out of the capitol; after his time away it seems so stifling, and everyone has changed, poor boy. He says he feels like both his father and Su have changed. Yu Jin says but your father was always like that! and Jing Rui shakes his head with the saddest pensive pout, I feel so bad. He doesn’t even know. DONT LET HIM FIND OUT SHOW DONT DO IT PLEEEEASE.

Yu Jin just shrugs and says that, to be fair, Mei Chang Su was always unfathomable, and he could tell Su never really considered them to be real friends of his. Jing Rui says nothing but his whole expression says BUT I WANT TO BE HIS REAL FRIEND THO.

(Jing Rui is wearing THE prettiest dark blue and silver outfit, btw. It’s very House Fingolfin. I love it.)

Jing Rui just looks sadder and sadder so Yu Jin switches gears and starts trying to cheer him up, suggesting a visit to the Heavenly Music House (some names are dropped so I’m guessing they’ll be important but I don’t care enough to remember them yet) and a nice boat outing and stuff, and see, Jing Rui, you already have a best friend in Yu Jin. Just be happy with that, don’t worry about Su! Yu Jin’s cajoling works and Jing Rui does cheer up, and they go back to their horses. But then they are startled when a Mysterious Cloaked Figure emerges from behind a tree!

I recognize her instantly: it’s Xia Dong. She’s missing her horse though, which can’t be a good sign.

Now we go back to Prince Yu, where the Duke of Qing is pleading for help. Yu has no more help to give, though, the Duke is done for at this point. Also Yu keeps punching himself in the face because he’s so frustrated and, like, more of this please I’m living. Yu says he needs to find out who escorted the old couple accusing the Duke (remember earlier the Marquis said it was his people I think, the son-in-law and his pugilist dad?) because he’s freaking out that the Crown Prince seemingly has secret pugilist allies.

Also Yu throws a fit here, an actual finger-wagging, mimicking-the-Duke’s-voice sort of fit, and it’s the best. He wants to know where Xia Dong, the investigator who knows too much, is.

Well, she’s with Jing Rui and Yu Jin at the river, that’s where. She calls Yu Jin over and he is hilariously frightened of her (apparently because she was his mega-harsh martial arts teacher when he was tiny) but he does approach, and she pretends to be bullying him but it’s just a cover so she can get close and whisper for him to help her back to the main road. Once he’s close he notices there’s blood running down her hand. Ohhhhh dear. She tells him to relax and pretend nothing is wrong.

To his credit, Yu Jin does this very well, no hesitation. He’s very sunny but he isn’t a fool; I love how he is always very capable, even if he enjoys larking. Jing Rui notices something must be wrong as they approach, and he also switches into serious mode, grabbing his sword as he rushes over. As long as I don’t fall over they won’t dare to come out, whispers Xia Dong, which is one of THE coolest lines ever given to a female character, I love itttt. She says there’s men hiding in the woods.

Soon enough, those men attack anyway! Can I just say all the shots of them sliding down the trees were great, btw, that looks like so much fun. Jing Rui tells Yu Jin to run ahead with the wounded Xia Dong and then proceeds to take out like twenty guys all by himself I love him so muchhhh. (Sidenote: I love all the shots of our boys hurrying through the tall grass while carrying the skirts of their robes, it’s so funny ok but also relatable) There’s a cool Jing Rui’s sword POV shot at some point and yeah the whole fight is majorly fun. This actor’s swordfighting is A++++ aesthetic.

Some assassins do surround Yu Jin and Xia Dong despite Jing Rui’s heroics, but our heroes fend them off unarmed, and they’re also awesome. Major props to whoever did Yu Jin’s series of backflips in all those heavy robes, goshdangggg. That was impressive. Also Xia Dong gets a blade and starts just DESTROYING all the assassins, what a fantastic woman. I also am beginning to suspect she wasn’t QUITE as injured as she was making out. My suspicious are confirmed when she fakes being weakened and hurting to lure out the leader of the assassins, who she then easily takes down. Then she casually PUNCHES THE POISON CAPSULE TOOTH OUT OF HIS MOUTH I love her so muchhhhhh

Good pure Jing Rui is a bit distressed by this, but Yu Jin tells him to just let her be. I think he is still scared of her. Xia Dong asks the assassin who sent him to kill her. His response? Prince Yu.

Annnd end episode! Is it really Prince Yu who sent the assassins? I don’t think so, because he told the Duke he could do nothing more for him AND that he didn’t know where Xia Dong was. Meanwhile, we know the Marquis was sending an ambush. The Prince Yu answer is probably just a coverup to misdirect. Does that mean Jing Rui just killed like a score of his dad’s own men? Oh, dear.

This is maybe my favourite episode since episode two! Fast-paced, no longer tied up with the Ni Huang marriage subplot, the story’s focus is now reverting more and more to Jing and I’m so here for that. Plus the story just keeps getting deeper and deeper, adding new levels to everyone’s motivations and relationships and oh it’s so good. It’s just so good. I’m so scared.

Also! Here (with permission) is a supersmart, superhelpful, and superhilarious graphic for this episode made by glimmeroo! It’s great and you should check out their work. I’ll try to keep linking to their graphics in each recap post I make from now on, as we are both recapping episodes just in different formats, so I think our posts compliment each other nicely ^_^

[charlottedabookworm]

Regarding: That Sad Idea you had a little while ago, about Nyx meeting the younger version of his dad? I think - I think it would work best if it wasn't TimeIsCruel Nyx. Not!TimeIsCruel Nyx, being *somehow* transported back to the past and meeting the younger version of his father - who is /thrilled/ to meet his future son. ("I have a son! I have a son! Hello random person, I have a son!") The magic that brought Nyx here doesn't let him do or say anything to alter the timeline (cont)

(cont) And it’s - heartbreaking and wonderful and strange all in one to meet this version of his father, one happier and lighter and /free/. And maybe Nyx can’t alter time (he’s going to get yanked back to his own time automatically eventually) - but, well, he takes advantage of it to /punch Somnus in the FACE/. (“Trust me, he deserves it.”) And just - think how heartbroken past!Ardyn must have been, when the Scourge and the Curse took him - (cont)

 (cont) He probably thought that he’d invalidated Nyx’s existence somehow; he was pretty sure he’d been rendered sterile by the Scourge/Curse etc. Except. Two thousand years later. He has a son. And he looks at Nyx and - Nyx is proof. That not everything he lost. He has a /son/. 

You, my friend, are a giant enabler. You are also right. It is so much more heartbreaking with a Nyx that didn’t know his father as he was - because it’s so much easier for him to notice the differences. When he gets back Nyx is gonna take like, a month off just to hug his dad and never let him go. Ardyn is totally fine with this, he’s spent 2000 years stressing over whetehr or not his son would be born. (Becuase he noticed how sometimes Nyx looked at him like he wanted to cry, how Nyx looked at Somnus as though he was an enemy. He didn’t think much of it at the time - because he was too focused on meeting Nyx - but after the curse, after Somnus’ betrayal? Well, lets say some things make a little more sense)

Have a snippet (hah, snippet I say, it’s over a 1000 words) from Nyx’s POV under the cut. I really want to write the next bit from Ardyns POV but I’m also meant to be packing and writing the next Our Past chapter so gods know when I’ll get round to it.

It happens while he’s on a mission, because of course it does.Nyx had been feeling out of sorts all day – nothing big, nothing even worth mentioning, but enough that he was just twitchy. Just odd enough for him to notice and for it to irritate him. Which, well, was annoying – but not world ending, even though it meant that he was looking forward to the mission and a chance to destroy things.And the mission started out well enough – it was just a standard guard and destroy mission (affectionally titled the “Hold your ground and Fuck Shit Up” missions in glaive reports – there was a reason that Drautos despaired of the lot of them) against the Nif and the Daemons that they’d brought with them. Nothing particularly difficult, nothing they hadn’t done before, nothing that would take all that long – it was a milk run, really, meant so that the younger glaives could build up some experience.Nyx was only there because he had volunteered when Drautos had asked for a couple older glaives to go to keep an eye on the kids. Because he had been desperate to get out of the city and just kill something – to try and work off all of this excess energy that he had.He had regretted that, pretty much the moment that they arrived at the site. Because Nyx had spent a lot of time fighting in ruins – it practically came in the job description and the Nifs spent a lot of time targeting populated areas. But nobody had told him that they were going to be fighting in the ruins of Old Solheim. Hells, maybe they didn’t even know. One set of ruins looked a lot like another, and they weren’t exactly anywhere near where Solheim used to be – Lucis and Niflheim probably didn’t even know what these ruins used to be.But Nyx could feel it – could feel the land reaching out to him, tasting his magic, could feel the magic of the land embracing him, recognising him. (His father was a King. Ardyn was Solheim’s King, bound to the land in a way that the Lucian kings would never understand. The land recognised him, whispered things to him, was a part of him in a way that Somnus had never known.And his father had recognised him as a Prince, had confirmed him as his heir. The land recognised that decision, accepted that decision. The land had chosen Nyx as it’s Prince, just like Ardyn had, and this was proof)Which made it really fucking hard to concentrate on the battle a hand, what with the way that his blood and magic were basically singing contentment and home and soon at him. Thankfully, the kids didn’t actually need his help – and Nyx only had to step in at the end when a couple of them had drawn the attention of a daemon that was a little too strong for them, Pelna having taken care of pretty much everything else.Fighting off a daemon with just his blades doesn’t really help him burn off any of the excess energy that’s because of his magic, but that’s probably a good thing honestly – with the way he feels right now, with the way his magic was right now, he’d probably end up blowing the entire place sky high.The battle ends pretty quickly, with no real injuries outside of some cuts and bruises caused by shrapnel, and they’re just cleaning up when it happens.Nyx, startled by a sudden change in the lands magic, stumbles – brushing a slightly bloody hand against some runes that he hadn’t bothered to translate.There’s a surge of magic - eager and joyous and excitable and powerful and old - that rushes around him, reaching for him, and Nyx barely has time to curse before the world goes white.He wakes up to a man poking him in the face, a man that his magic instinctively recognises, and his fist is flying towards the mans face without a second thought. For a moment he feels slightly guilty – really, the man had brought it on himself but he might have possibly been a bit violent – before he realises what his magic, what the land, is whispering to him (brother of the King, blood-kin, Bahamut’s blade, Somnus) and then all he feels is proud of the way that his nose had cracked, and slightly sad that he hadn’t managed to do more.And then his eyes land on the second man, who was standing slightly behind the first, and he freezes.(That’s his dad. He knows that that’s his dad – his magic had reached for him the way that it always did, and his dad’s magic had reached back. But.It was so odd to see his father without the weight of millennia on his shoulders. It was odd to see the man without the lines of betrayal on his face, without the taint of the scourge in his magic, without the air of age that always surrounded him, without the endless shadows in his eyes and the constant battle for control against the daemons housed within his body.This was the healer, the King of Solheim. This was a man who hadn’t yet taken too much of the Scourge into himself trying to heal others, who hadn’t yet been betrayed by those closest to him, who hadn’t had his people stolen from him, who hadn’t faced his own execution at the hands of his family, who hadn’t been cursed by a God that he had once followed, who hadn’t had to live for 2000 years trying to find a way to die. This was Ardyn before he was broken, this was his father as he should have been.And that broke his heart.Because this man, the man in front of him, was young. Young in a way that Nyx found hard to reconcile with his father.He was young and happy and free, and it made Nyx want to kill something and cry and break down. Because Nyx knew exactly what happened to this man, to turn him into the father that Nyx knew – Nyx knew what was in this man’s future, and he hated himself for it)“What the fuck is my luck?” He said mournfully, tipping his head briefly back to stare at the sky. Why was it always him?A noise brought his attention back to his father, who was standing half-in half-out a defence stance, obviously confused at what his magic was telling him about Nyx. Well, might as well prove that he’s his father’s son.“Hey dad, lovely weather we’re having right?”

[luxandauroris]

Thus the Journey of the Vessel Begins.

[ “You were born a child of light’s wonderful secret— you return to the beauty you have always been.” ― Aberjhani ]

“You want to what now?” Prompto asked in disbelief.

“I want to go and investigate the fort to the east of here.” Delphine said, sat around the dwindling campfire with her four companions. “It’s not one of Aldercapt’s units, but I swear I’ve seen that symbol somewhere before.”

Ignis pinched the bridge of his nose. “We really should make haste for Caem, Cid is waiting for us and-“

“I know, Ignis.” Delph interrupted. “I wouldn’t have even mentioned going if I wasn’t sure it was worth investigating.”

“Hey,” Noctis said, turning to Ignis. “It could be useful for working out any Nif secrets…”

Delphine turned to Noctis and flashed him a grateful smile, one which he returned eagerly.

“You would side with her…” Ignis muttered. “Fine, I know better than to argue with you when you have your sights set on something so deeply. We’ll leave at nightfall, but you’re the one who has to incur the wrath of Cid when we eventually get back to Caem.”

“Fine by me.” Delph agreed, causing Gladio to chuckle beside her.

Three hours later, and the group were preparing to head out as the sun set over the lands of Lucis. As Delph was sharpening her spear, she felt a presence behind her, turning round to see a familiar blond head of hair settling down beside her. He rest his head on her shoulder, as he had come to do so often since they had departed on this crazy journey.

“Do you ever think about the people from back home?” Prompto asked, looking over the horizon.

“Sometimes.” Delph replied, voice quiet. “The usual been on your mind again?”

“Yeah.” He sighed. “I… really miss her.”

The dark-haired woman had to hold back tears which were threatening to spill. Miel had been on her mind a lot since she had finally received a reply to the text she had sent a few days ago. She was fairly sure Prompto had cried when she showed him the messages, seeing Miel not believing that he wanted to see her…

“You really love her, don’t you?” She asked.

“More that I can say.” Prompto chuckled.

“Next time you see her, tell her.”

Prompto turned to face his friend, wide eyed but nodding all the same. Delph didn’t know if he would actually do it, but the thought being in his mind was enough for her for now. She hadn’t gotten the guts to tell Miel how she felt all those years ago, and the last thing she wanted was for Prompto to go through the same anguish she had. He was so much more open with her, so much more suited to her than she was, and the way he looked at her, it made Delph’s heart sing, seeing her two closest friends so happy.

“Didn’t you love her… once?” Prom asked, eyes full of curiosity.

Delphine laughed. Not a malicious one, an airy one, looking back on a past memory that she was extremely fond of. “I’ll always hold her dear in my heart, Prom, but… she’s yours. I accepted that a long time ago.”

Prompto nodded, pulling Delph to him in what could be seen as an act of thanking her. He valued Delphine and her friendship so much, she was what kept the boys from constantly being at each other’s throats, what kept Gladio from being too overbearing during training, the only person Ignis trusted to cook other than himself, and Noct - well, Noct was another matter entirely when it came to Delphine Auroris. Not that she knew, or that she would ever know.

Before either of the two could ponder their thoughts further, a cough came from behind them. They separated, seeing Gladio stood there, all prepped to head over to their mission. “We’re ready, let’s go.”

The pair nodded, standing up and gathering their gear. Delphine took a deep breath, mentally readying herself for another infiltration, unaware of what awaited she and her friends on the other side of the tall, looming walls.

The plan of action was simple enough – infiltrate, explore, extract. The group had gotten past the first line of defence pretty swiftly (thank the lord for warp-kills), were now making their way through the facility. Prompto, Noctis, and Delphine stuck to the left, heading for an office building, whereas Ignis and Gladio scouted out the weapons area.

Delphine still hadn’t been able to identify the fort flag, the symbol was striking up a memory within her, she just didn’t know which one. There had been no names anywhere, either, so she was at a loss. She shook the thought from her mind as her group reached the building, Prompto granting them entry with a keycard he’d swiped from one of the guards.

“What exactly is it that we’re looking for?” Noctis asked, rooting through a cabinet.

“Anything which gives us an idea of who these guys are, and what their plans are.” Delphine replied, heading over to what looked like the main desk in the room. She tried each drawer, but it wouldn’t budge no matter how hard she pulled. She didn’t want to break it, otherwise whoever owned this place would know someone had been in there.

Instead, she moved to what appeared to be a tray of folders. Opening one, she saw mission details for a raid on Galahd, effectively planning to destroy the place, with ‘MISSION SUCCESSFUL’ stamped across the top in large, red letters. She scanned the page with haste, looking for a name, a group, anything that would tell her who was responsible. She turned page after page with no luck. On the final page in the document, however, was a photo. It was specifications for a catapult, extremely intricate and bound to destroy anything it set its sights on. The name on the side, however, caused Delph’s stomach to drop.

No.

No.

Not him.

Please.

No…

“H-hey, Delph?” Prompto asked, voice shaking as he studied the folder in his hand. “What were your parents’ names again?”

Oh no.

“Carina and Amanitus.” Delphine replied, tone void of emotion.

“Wait…” Noctis interjected. “I know those names, they were two of Dad’s most skilled Glaives.”

“They were, yes.” Delph replied. “And I’m guessing that Prompto is currently holding the report of the raid they were involved in on General Ulixes twelve years ago, the night they died.”

“Uh, yeah. I-”

“The same general, as it would happen, who I would guess runs the very fort we’re stood in.”

“Delph, wai-”

She was out the door before Prompto could finish, eyes alight with a flame which had been burning for twelve years too long.

“DELPHINE! FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS WOULD YOU WAIT!” Ignis cried, sprinting to catch up to her as she stormed through the area.

“I’ve waited for twelve years, Ignis, that’s more than long enough.” She replied, voice harsh as she stormed ahead.

Ahead of her was a large courtyard, where she hoped to get a better idea of where the bastard might be. And if he wasn’t here, well, she could tear up his shit instead. The boys were clearly concerned and scared simultaneously, but she pushed them to the back of her mind for the moment as she charged forwards. That is, until a firm grip pulled her back.

“Get off, Gladio.”

“What exactly are you hoping to do here?” He growled. “We have no plan of attack, no back-up for if things go wrong, it’s a death trap.”

“I’ll be fine.” Delph protested, moving to walk again.

At that moment, a large spotlight flashed into life, glaring down onto the group. Delphine squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light, before spotting a figure perched on the top of one of the nearby towers.

“My my my, what have we here?” An unsettling voice shouted. “Could it be the heir of Lucis, in MY fort?”

Gladio moved to stand in front of Noctis. “Who are you?” He roared.

“Why, I am General Velinus Ulixes. General of the Niflheim forces and weapons contractor.”

He had whispy black hair which hung around his hollowed face, making him look like a ghost. His face was set into a permanent sneer, spindly fingers gripping the barrier of the balcony he was stood upon. His uniform was decked in platinum metal, shining under the harsh lights above. Delphine growled, readying herself to summon her spear when the situation presented itself.

“What’s this? You brought a pretty girl along with you?” He asked, leaning over the railing slightly. “She’ll make for plenty of fun later, looks like the type to enjoy that sort of thing.”

“HEY.” Noctis and Prompto yelled, getting themselves into their own combat stance.

“Trust me, old man, I want nothing to do with you.” Delphine retorted, seeing more red with each second that passed.

The sounds of soldiers approaching didn’t go unnoticed by the group, all conjuring their weapons simultaneously. Delphine gripped her spear tightly, ready to launch it at a moment’s notice.

“Oh but why so aggressive, beautiful one?” He chortled. “It doesn’t suit you.”

“Why would I want anything to do with the man who killed my family?” Delph snarled. At a lack of response from the General, she continued. “You don’t even remember them, do you?”

“I’ve killed a lot of people in my time, sweetheart.” He shrugged. “But I’m bored of you now. Attack!”

Guards came at them from all sides. Bullets flew, swords clashed, it was chaos. Delphine utilised every skill she had learned throughout her fighting career, her training, everything came together to eliminate as many of these guards as she could, while keeping an eye on Ulixes to make sure he wouldn’t escape.

He didn’t move. He simply stood, watching. Waiting.

The guards were down to their last few. As Delphine plunged her spear into the heart of an MT, she noticed Ulixes had finally started to move, producing something from behind him. Was that a crossbow? It looked like it, and a big one at that. He perched the device on his shoulder, taking aim on the battlefield at the first person he set his eyes on.

Delph’s legs moved faster than she ever thought possible.

And then there was pain.

Blinding, absolute, pain.

Then nothing.

At the sound of an arrow right behind him, Prompto turned around just in time to see Delphine’s body hit the floor. An arrow was protruding from her chest, almost like an insult to the rest of their group. His mind went numb, the only thing he focused on was eliminating the last of these damned guards so he could get to her, so he could make sure she was okay.

Noctis raged, summoning the armiger and blasting through any guard he set his sights on. This hadn’t happened. This couldn’t happen. She was fine, she was fine… At last, the guards were down, laying in heaps on the floor of the courtyard.

And among them, lay Delphine.

The group sprinted over to her, Noctis laying her head in his lap while Ignis checked her pulse. Prompto looked to Ignis with hopeful eyes while Gladio gently tried shaking the woman, but to no avail. Ignis shook his head lightly. Her eyes were clouded, no longer sparkling with a lust for adventure, with the delight that she was so well-known for.

She was gone.

“You know, I think I do remember her parents now.” Ulixies sneered. “They died the same way, protecting people they cared about.”

“SHUT UP!” Noctis and Gladio yelled, tears pricking their eyes.

She couldn’t be gone. Their Delphine, their warrior, the cockiest yet sweetest woman they’d ever met… Noctis’ mind flashed back to memories of school, of hours spent at Delphine’s house working on stupid projects that wouldn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, of being entranced by her smile and her laugh, exploring Insomnia together and making places their own, knowing he could trust her no matter what, enjoying every moment he spent with her.

Gladio thought of her quick wit, how she was always able to find a silver lining in any situation. How she was hot-headed, but sensible (most of the time), the challenge she posed when the two duelled, playing off one another in order to work out the other’s weaknesses, emotional conversations under starlight, everything.

Ignis’ mind was blank. He was seeing red himself. One of their group had been taken in the act of trying to bring justice. His friend, his sister, was gone. His fists clenched at his side, this wasn’t how things were supposed to go. They were meant to meet up at cafés long into the future and laugh about this journey when it was all over, not mourn.

Prompto still had her hand in his. She was still warm, bittersweetly. He thought of the days the two of them and Miel would sneak out of school and head to the arcade, wasting the time but having the time of their lives all at once. Hours spent talking about life problems and helping one another to be their best selves, supporting her as she fought her way to the top. Oh god, Miel… What would she say? She’d be in bits… He brought her hand to his lips, kissing it gently before placing it on her chest, just below where the arrow still stood.

He rose slowly, drawing his weapon. “I’ll kill him.”

The others joined him, standing beside him. Ready to avenge the woman who brought them so much joy.

That is, until the light hit.

So this is death…

Delphine had never known what to expect when she died, few do.

It was so dark.

So empty.

She felt as though she was floating, drifting away to join her parents and godfather – wherever they were now. She could see a faint light in the distance, growing larger with each second. That must have been her final destination, she supposed.

She didn’t regret jumping in front of the arrow, no way. It saved Prompto. That was all she wanted, for those she loved to be safe. She just hoped that Ulixes was dead by now.

The light finally reached her, and she closed her eyes, embracing the warmth it brought with it. But there was no shift in consciousness, no sudden alertness. She still felt just as drained as she had done before. But now, she could feel… grass? Was she in a field? Opening her eyes, she sat up to find that yes, she was in a field. A field filled with delphiniums, conveniently enough.

She stood up, noting that she was barefoot now. Her clothes had changed, too. Instead of her tattered jacket and jeans, she was wearing a short-sleeved dress, white in colour which came to her knees. As she moved, the flowers seemed to part, forming a path for her to follow. Tentatively, she began to walk along it, taking in all the sights, smells, and sensations along the way.

Where was she?

Why was no one else here?

Delphine could see a throne in the distance, lined with the same delphiniums which lay along the ground. Atop the throne sat a woman, one of the most beautiful women Delphine had ever seen. She had long, blonde hair which fell past her feet, and a gown which was made from the finest silk, with two wings fanning outwards behind her. An angel? Her face was soft, kind, welcoming. She smiled as the young warrior approached, sensing her nervousness.

“Young Delphine, there is no need to be afraid.” She said, voice soothing.

“W-where am I?” Delphine asked.

“You are in a place between life and death, where decisions are made and fates aligned.”

Delphine’s eyes widened. Fates aligned? What did that mean?

“Allow me to introduce myself.” The woman continued. “For I am the Goddess Eos, Protector of the Planet and Ruler of the Astrals.”

Delphine immediately dropped to one knee, bowing before Eos. “Please, forgive me. I had no idea.”

Eos laughed. “Stand, my child. There is no need to bow before me.”

Delph nodded before rising slowly. She tried to appear composed, but internally her mind was screaming. What on Eos (ha, that was ironic now) was going on?

“If you don’t mind my asking, Goddess Eos,” Delph began. “What exactly am I doing here?”

“Ah yes, of course.” Eos said, rising from her seat. She began to circle Delphine. But she didn’t walk, she appeared to glide, moving with such grace and elegance that Delph found herself getting slightly light-headed. “You have heard the stories of the Vessels of the Astrals, correct?”

“I…” Delph said. “Yes, but I assumed they were just stories?”

Eos shook her head. “They are all true, dear one.” She moved to stand in front of Delphine, taking her hands. “I have brought you here to ask that you be my vessel, to bring justice and honour to a planet which is dwindling into extreme dismay.”

Delphine studied the eyes of the woman before her, there was no hint of malice, of deceit. All the stories were true, and here she was about to embark on one of her own. Her breathing sped up, panic starting to take over her as she thought about what this could mean.

“I, um, why me?” She asked, concern and fear clouding her features.

“You’ll know.” Eos said simply. “When the time comes, you will understand.”

“But- But what if I can’t do it?”

“You will, I wouldn’t have chosen you otherwise.” Eos said, smiling. “I have the upmost faith in you, Delphine Auroris. The light which you bring to the lives of so many must continue to shine.”

Delphine paused for a moment. If she accepted this offer, she could be reunited with everyone again. Prompto, Ignis, Gladio, Noctis, Miel… She could come back. She would have a job to do and a calling to fulfil, but she could come back.

“You will,” Eos said, interrupting her thoughts, “be granted all powers I have at my disposal. The elements will be yours to command, these wings yours to take to the sky. I will, essentially, meld myself with you.”

Delphine gulped, this was a huge responsibility. She took a few minutes to think about her choices before lifting her head to look at Eos again, face steady and determined.

“Have you made a decision, young one?” She asked.

Delphine nodded, sure that this was what she wanted to do.

A warm light began to fill her chest, and she closed her eyes once again. She felt… powerful, like she could do anything she put her mind to with ease. Energy flowed throughout her body, and she felt the world grow dark again, her spirit rising with each passing second. She thought of her friends, her family, willing her on, supporting her through anything and everything. A cold chill hit her face, wind. She could hear several voices shouting below her, four in joy and one in anger.

She opened her eyes.

Delphine Auroris, Vessel of Eos, was reborn.

She raised her hand, not quite sure what she expected to happen but willing it nonetheless. She would have to practice, she knew that, but for now, instinct was all that mattered. She aimed her hand at Ulixes, eyes stern, calculating, prepared. A blast of light shot out, hitting him square in the chest as he screamed.

Dead.

Gone.

Her family avenged.

His scheme, his glee at killing once again, foiled.

She slowly lowered herself to the ground, feeling two weights on her back as she adjusted to the feeling of wings present there. The air around her felt sharp, electric, and she breathed it in willingly. The arrow was gone, she noticed, all that remained was a scar.

Delphine looked up into the faces of the four men she had dreamed of seeing again, noting mixed emotions on their faces. Joy, disbelief, mild fear… all to be expected. But she was happy. So, so happy to be with them once again.

“Well,” Prompto said, mouth agape. “You certainly have some explaining to do.”

[alicemoonwonderland]

A Hidden Goodbye - Part One

A little random idea I got and discussed with @themissimmortal. She said write it. Then I tortured @atlerion with it, and this is the result. It will be a two part short story as it felt natural that way. 

Summary:  You’re the young second wife of King Regis and mother of your second child. You two were happy….till the Nifs came.

Fandom: Final Fantasy XV

Pairing: Regis x Fem!Reader

Rating: NSFW – no smut though

Warning: Character Death, Angst

[part two]

Tagging: @itshaejinju @cupnoodle-queen@nifwrites @blindbae @hypaalicious @diabolik-trash-heap @louisvuittontrashbags @rubyphilomela @neko-otaku13 @insomniacapparel @xnoctits @insomniascure@ridingchocobros @dirtyffxvconfession @ponkita@stunninglyignis @fieryfantasy @sweetchocobae @atlerion, @angelic-guardienne

You laughed as you sat in the palace gardens, your little baby sitting on your lip and giggling happily as she wore a Moogle onesie her big brother Noctis had given her. You loved your daughter Aurora more than you could bear at times.

The little girl looked just like her father. The same beautiful green eyes and thick black hair. At times, you had to pinch yourself as you couldn't believe it was real. You, a simple assistant, married the King of Lucis as his second wife. And the Astrals had blessed your union with this little scrap of purity. "Aurora!" You cooed and kissed her belly happily. Making the child giggle more. "I love you little princess."

"You have some love for me as well, don't you, my wife." You looked up amused as you cuddled the toddler against your chest. The little girl beaming and wiggled excited as your husband and her father made his way towards you two. Leaning on his cane, his knee brace in place. It always tugged on your heart to see him like this. The Ring and the Wall demanding so much from him. Praying silently to the Astrals that one day he could finally rest and find peace.

"Mmmmm. Maybe," you drawled coyly, eyes twinkling as he laughed amused. Your daughter joining him happily as she held out her little hands at him. Regis sat down with the two of you, his movement stiff and slow. It made your heart ache, but you did not offer to help him. Knowing he did not like it at all.

Your little girl did not notice it, for her, daddy was just daddy. Wiggling off your lap, the little one crawled excitedly over to her father. Regis' green eyes lit up brightly as he picked up the little thing and cuddled her against his chest - taking off his crown and just became Regis, a husband and a father. Not the King.

You snuggled against his side and stroked his arm softly as he cooed and rubbed his fingers against Aurora's chubby little cheeks. He felt a bit tense, but that didn't surprise you. Being King was nothing if not stressful. Gently, you pressed your lips against his cheek - he automatically leaned into your touch. "Long day at work?" you asked him gently as he wrapped his muscular arm around your waist and pulled you closer.

He turned his face and pressed his lips softly against yours, making you giggle as his facial hair tickled your skin. Aurora let out a little huff, and you two looked amused at her. Her little cheeks puffed up, and her hands grabbing her father's shirt firmly. "Ah, isn't Papa allowed to give Mama a kiss?" Regis cooed amused as he rubbed his nose tenderly against hers, making her giggle again.

"You know how she is, she doesn't like sharing attention. Just like someone else I know...eep!" Slapping his arm lightly, you gave him a scolding look as his lips quirked up in a cheeky smirk. Handsome. He had aged a lot the last few years, his once black hair now completely silver. Lines on his skin and his body not as strong as it used to be. But he was still handsome to you. Still the strongest man you knew. Strength did not always come from the body, but from the mind as well. And few had such a steely mind as the one he possessed had.

You kept watching him tease and adore his daughter till the little kitten yawned and nodded off in his arms. Carefully, he put her in her sleeping basket and with a tender touch he tucked her in. "You are so sweet with her. I can watch you two for hours."

He turned to you and brushed his knuckles against your cheek this time. Having taken off his cloak as well and now sitting in only his suit. You turned your face and pressed a soft kiss against his knuckles. Enjoying the moment between the two of you. He tucked some of your hair behind your ear, pulling you back close against his body. "I wish I could spend more time with you two."

You nodded understanding, some days it almost felt like a game of juggle to find time between your duties and taking care of Aurora, to find time to just be together. He usually tried to be there for dinner with you, Aurora, and Noctis - when the young man came to the Citadel to spend time with you and his baby sister.

Another cute moment to watch. The usually quiet and tad awkward boy always perked up when he was with his sister. Regis also always tried to be back in your quarters around 10pm. So he could get some decent sleep. But the last few weeks, he had come to bed later and later. The issue of Niflheim weighing so heavy on his mind.

"How about you go visit your mother in Lestallum?" You blinked surprised at the suddenly suggestion. He pressed his fingers against your lips to prevent you from protesting. "It is a few months since you've seen her. And she has seen Aurora. It would do you some good."

"But what about you?" You couldn't just leave him alone, you were the one who made sure - even during these busy dangerous times - he didn't spend too much time working.

"I will join you in two-three days. Just got some stuff finish up, then I will come to Lestallum and we can have some time off together." When you tried to protest again, he didn't use his fingers to silence you, but his own lips. Making your toes curl and your fingers curling around his jacket. "You were the one who mentioned wanting to go on a little vacation. Now I am trying to make it happen, and you protest."

He let out a soft laugh when you playfully bit his bottom lip in retaliation. "Alright, Alright. But you will join me. Aurora gets super grumpy when her daddy doesn't give her a goodnight kiss." He rested his forehead against yours as his hand against the side of your neck, his calloused thumb brushing against your jawline.

"I will always be with you. Always"

  Aurora had been moody when you two had gotten into the car with two Glaives as escorts: your friend Nyx Ulric and Crowe Altius. She had settled down a bit when Regis had given her a Carbuncle plush, the little girl had holding it tightly.

Something had felt off to you though. The night before, Regis had made passionate but almost desperate love to you. His hold clingy and possessive. His kisses needy. You didn't question him about it, just gave him all he demanded and more. Chalking it up to stress. And what better way to release stress than by making passionate love?

He had kissed you extra hard and almost desperate again when you had been about to leave. Whispering to you to never forget how much he loved you. How you were his world. And would do anything for you. You had kissed him back, the unease increasing in your stomach, but again did not question about it. Clarus and Cor had been acting normally, so you tried not to be alarmed about anything.

You and Aurora had waved at the three men till you couldn't see them anymore, your heart growing heavier the further away from the Citadel you went. Something screaming inside of you to go back to him.

To be truthful, this had been the first time the two of you would be separated since becoming an official couple. So, again, you didn't listen to your instincts and chalked it up to separation anxiety. He would join you soon. Everything would be fine.

The next few days went by with a flash, Aurora and the others keeping you too busy to watch the news. Texting Regis whenever you could. You had laughed at yourself when your heart would still skip a beat like a silly teenager whenever he texted you. Or called you. Yes, he needed a damn holiday. Looking so damn exhausted. But he smiled. Cooed to Aurora. So all was well.

Or so you thought....

You woke up feeling sick as a fog. You shouldn't have had the fish last night. It really hadn't agreed with you. Checking up on Aurora, you smiled softly as you little girl slept sounding. Glancing around, you looked for your phone.

Regis had been oddly quiet last night but you had gone to bed rather early. Vaguely remembering him sending you a text that said. Forever yours and forever loving you. Honestly, that King of yours could be such a hopeless romantic at times.

Leaving the bedroom, you walked down the stairs to the living room. Your mind deep in thought as you thought of your Regis. The uncomfortable feeling almost annoying in your chest. Mmm, where was your phone? Maybe Nyx knew. You spotted the two Glaives and your mother sitting by the radio.

In Nyx's hand was a crumbled newspaper, Crowe squeezing his arm with a pained look on her face. Your mother stood up, her eyes red and rimmed with tears. Dread locked your throat, your hand immediately resting on your heart. "What's going on?"

....Niflheim laid waste to Insomnia with a gigantic Daemon of unknown origin. Recent reports are that King Regis, Prince Noctis, and the Lady Lunafreya all have died during the attack on Crown City….

You barely noticed your legs giving out on you, and you slumped onto the floor. King Regis and Prince Noctis dead. No. No. This couldn't be.

It felt as if sounds came to you through a wall or distorted like hearing it from under water. Your mother and Nyx rushed towards you. Asking you questions but you couldn't answer them. Noctis. Sweet little Noctis. No, he couldn't be dead. Regis.

A hysterical sob ripped through the air as you shook them off. No! No! NO! This couldn't be happening! He had promised he would be here soon. Go on a little holiday. "No this is a lie. It's propaganda! It's a lie!" you screamed as you grabbed his shirt and shook him in despair. "It's a lie, Nyx! They're still alive! THEY ARE ALIVE!!"

Nyx's eyes flashed with agony and wrapped his arms around you to restrain you from either hurting him or yourself. "Nyx please tell me it's a lie. Please! Oh Astrals. No this couldn't be happening! NO!" You sobbed against his shoulder as you clawed his chest. Not knowing what to do. Not know how to react. What to do with the crippling agony inside of you.

"I wish it was a lie. Fuck, I wished so much it was," he whispered apologising in your hair as he kept holding onto you. Rocking you, as your mother rubbed your back in some form of comfort.

The pain only increased as Nyx told you what had happened, Cor having called him to explain. The Nifs had betrayed them. Killed your husband. The City destroyed. So many had died.

"But Noctis is alive," Nyx whispered as he pulled back so he could look you in the eye. Cupping your face firmly. "The King send him away a day after you to keep him safe from Niflheim."

"He knew they were going to double cross him." It explained so much. The desperate way he had held you, kissed you. All the things he had been saying. He had been saying goodbye. It made the pain worse.

You screamed. Loud. Hard. Agonising. Your heart screamed with you. Your body shaking with the blinding sorrow and despair. Your voice cracked. Becoming hoarse and weak. But internally? You never really stopped screaming.

[secret-engima]

*snicker* Sorry, I just - had the mental image of the Nox!taur 'verse combined with your soulmates 'verse. And I just - had the mental image of Cor and secret!female!Ardyn switching places on Switch day - long before they actually *meet* in person. So here is Cor, utterly flabbergasted because he's long thought he was one of the few /without/ a soulmate, suddenly blinking awake on Switch day in an entirely different place and body and - are those wings. Are those scales. (cont)

hamelin-born said: (cont) He has a soulmate, and his soulmate is an /unknown dragon-taur?!/ His soulmate is a *Lucis Caelum?!* Meanwhile, Ardyn is - actually flawlessly pretending to be Cor and /getting away with it because 1) She actually learned about Switch Day and the existence of soulmates in time to anticipate this, and 2) Ardyn used to use illusions to assume other's identities for /fun/ (and blackmail purposes), she's /used/ to tricking others into believing she's someone else. (cont)

hamelin-born said: (cont) Ardyn's main worry is for her darling nibling - but they made all the preparations they could, just in case, and she knows that Nox can take care of himself. (Nox is. Currently being fed Good Food by Libertus, who immediately recognized that the person in Nyx's body Was Not Nyx, and is both welcoming him to the family and gently interrogating him. Meanwhile, Nyx is - literally in the middle of the wilderness, miles from everyone else, FREAKING OUT at the dragon-taur body she's in.)

hamelin-born said: Cont: It's later assumed by EVERYONE that a mixture of Lucis Caelum Magic, Niflheimr Magitek Science, and Astral Bleepery are to blame for the soulmates never switching until they were all well over 15.

Me: Can I just say I love this idea with every fiber of my being? Like- hgfdhgf. Not going to make it part of Nox!Taur canon but this is HYSTERICAL. Imma ramble on this because this is great.

Do you know what would make it BETTER? If neither of them had any clue it was going to happen. Ardyn just- woke up in the wrong body, looked around, and decided she had no idea what was going on but she was gonna ROLL WITH IT and is flawlessly pulling it off because she’s he master at addlibing. She picks up from some of the things mentioned as she goes about Cor’s day that 1. Apparently the switching thing is normal? 2. Apparently no one expects Cor to be switched because he never has and people assume that means his “soulmate” is dead or never existed. 3. That soulmates are a thing. Interesting.

Wait how is her darling nephew going to deal with this? Also this means Cor the Immortal is in HER body right now. Oh dear.

Cor meanwhile is Not A Happy Camper. He just- where is he. What’s going on. He SWITCHED? He has A SOULMATE AT HIS AGE (remember, switches only happen when the youngest member turns fifteen so Cor at first thinks his soulmate must be. Devastatingly young). Then he gets a good look at his soulmate’s body and internally Freaks Out. He has a dragon for a soulmate, there is ANOTHER LUCIS CAELUM RUNNING AROUND. Further, the caelum is STARVING TO DEATH. Cor can barely stand to haul this body to Hammerhead from the hunger pangs and dizziness and by the astrals what has his soulmate been doing to get into this state? (Answer: nothing, this is Ardyn’s normal state, she just literally doesn’t notice because compared to sharing a suit with thousands of screaming daemons the pain of hunger doesn’t even register as pain). Cor is further alarmed when he hauls the body to Hammerhead and Cid GREETS what he clearly thinks is the owner of the body, (ARDYN??? HIS SOULMATE IS ARDYN? IT BETTER NOT BE THE ARDYN HE’S THINKING OF) And Cor kinda gives the game away by yelling “YOU KNOW WHO OWNS THIS BODY?” And Cid blinks and goes “You’re her soulmate?” Then he squints because clearly Ardyn’s soulmate knows Cid too, takes in the posture and the scowl and goes “COR?”

In the middle of a private meeting between Regis, Clarus, Titus, and “Cor”, Regis’s phone rings. A quick check proves it to be Cid’s number and he answers because Cid never calls without very good reason. Listens with slowly widening eyes to whatever is being said, then lowers the phone to stare sternly at “Cor”, “I believe,” Regis says slowly as he turns the phone to speaker, “It’s for you.”

Ardyn is highly amused to hear her own voice trying to screech deeply as Cor yells at his soulmate over being half starved and also his soulmate and if you are causing his king any grief, soulmate or NOT he’s going to kill you.

Regis, Clarus, and Titus watch in minor horror as the person they were sure was just a slightly broodier Cor (which is normal considering what day it is) relaxes and smirks, body posture loose and totally different, “Me? My dear Cor,” purrs the person in Cor’s frame, “I’ve been causing no trouble at all! I even filed all your paperwork for you. No one has been inconvenienced in the slightest, have you, Your Majesty?” A bright smile that is eerie on Cor’s face and Regis stiffens. Then Ardyn flicks her soulmate’s lion tail and muses aloud, “I will admit to being confused over all of this however, this has never happened to me before.”

“Ah blame Mors,” Cid says over the line after shushing an irate Cor, “an’ the Nifs. They probably screwed with the soul bond or something.”

“Fair assumption,” muses Cor’s soulmate before smiling and bowing to Regis and Clarus with a dramatic, “Well, since Cor has given the game away, I suppose I should introduce myself. Ardyn Izunia, honored to make your acquantence.”

Dead. Horrified. Silence. Then over the line Cor starts swearing a blue streak.

Titus feels his Doom™ approaching. His boss is not only apparently FEMALE, she is COR’S SOULMATE. HIS SECRET BOSS AND THE MARSHAL ARE SOULMATES. HE’S DOOMED.

Turning to Nyx:

Nyx is … Nyx is not handling this well. She was expecting her Switch day to happen sometime soon, because there’s an average age range for soulmates and she’s creeping toward the longer end but not that badly. She was expecting a switch … she was NOT expecting to wake up alone, in the middle of nowhere, hungry and ACHING in her lower back where her taur half started, like a fire pounding in time to her heartbeat and making it exhausting just to stand up. Six, Six her soulmate must have just turned fifteen, a fifteen year old was out in the wildness, clearly INJURED and hungry-. She twists around to look at the injury, praying that doesn’t make it worse, and comes face to face with WINGS. Twitching, blue-scaled dragon wings.

Her soulmate is a dragontaur. Her soulmate is an injured, fifteen year old dragontaur in the middle of who knows where with no help or guardian in SIGHT-.

Six. Six this was bad. Who did she have to kill for this when she got back-.

“Nox? You okay?” Nyx whirls at the approach of the familiar voice, stumbles then rights herself clumsily (note to self, dragontaurs did NOT move the same way coeurltaurs did) and is both relieved and angry to see Axis cautiously trotting over.

“You KNOW who this is?” Nyx demands angrily, “Curse it, Axis, why didn’t you TELL anyone there was another Lucis Caelum running around?”

Axis freezes, several expressions cross his face, “Oh. I guess Nox turned fifteen recently,” he says aloud slowly, “You are?”

“Nyx. And the moment I’m back I am TELLING Luche and Tredd about this.”

Axis blanches, then sighs, “Yeah, I probably deserve that, come on, let’s get you to a Haven to figure this out.”

Nyx pauses, “I’m not sure I should be walking, he’s hurt.”

Axis whirls around in alarm, but after hearing Nyx’s description of the pain and a quick check under the shirt, Axis just shakes his head and looks … grim, “I knew he was always downplaying it.”

“…Axis?”

“You’re not feeling a wound. Those are just Nox’s scars. He kept saying they didn’t hurt anymore, but I always thought he was just acclimated to the pain.”

Nyx gapes for several seconds, already feeling fury building in her frame, wings mantling out without her control before she hisses, “Axis. Axis I literally feel like I’ve been mauled by a coeurl within the last week, HOW IS ANYONE ACCLIMATED TO THAT?”

Axis’s unhappy, protective look grows deeper, “By being stuck with it since childhood without proper medication or help. Now come on, you can’t fight in that body.”

Nyx follows, and suddenly doesn’t think the sick, twisting feeling in this body’s stomach is just hunger.

Turning to Nox!

Nox doesn’t realize the switch for a WHILE.

Mostly because he is dead to the world asleep.

He got switched to a body that doesn’t have anywhere near the level of aches and pains his has what did you expect but for him to conk out from relief?

It is that prolonged sleep that clues Libertus in that Nyx has finally had her first Switch, because yeah Nyx sleeps in sometimes, who doesn’t, but sleeping in until noon with no signs of stirring? Nyx hasn’t even done that when in the hospital unless she was drugged six ways from Sunday. So Libertus and Crowe carefully unlock Nyx’s apartment and scoot inside to wait anxiously in the living room/kitchenette of the tiny apartment. If Nyx IS just sleeping in somehow, she won’t care, and if it’s the new soulmate … Libertus is protective. He knows soulmates are supposed to be your ultimate match and partner, but he’s seen enough to know that sometimes … things just don’t work out. He isn’t going to let Nyx’s body get hurt because some stranger woke up and reacted badly to being a soulmate to a Kingsglaive.

When Nox finally wakes up, he registers his strange surroundings and FREAKS. Promptly falls over because coeurl legs rather than the dragon limbs he’s finally used to. Crowe and Libertus run in just in time to witness Nox having a panic attack. Libertus thinks that’s … an overreaction until after calming Nox down and listening to his confused, freaked out questions, they realize that whoever this is, he is SOMEHOW totally oblivious to how soulmates work.

Nox gets bundled into the living area with Crowe sitting on not-his-back while Libertus feeds him All the Good Food and explains the soulmate thing.

Soulmate.

This is a soulmate world. A taur soulmate world where soulmates find each other by SWAPPING BODIES for two days of the year.

Bahamut. Bahamut where are you Nox waNtS a ReFUnD-

Libertus asks some gentle questions and yeah it becomes immediately clear that Nyx’s soulmate was … not taken care of as a child. Or possibly ever.

Libertus wants to kill someone.

The soulmate, who’s name is Nox apparently, admits to having an- a relative he calls “Uncle”, and when Libertus and Crowe gently tell Nox that his soulmate is a Kingsglaive named Nyx … Nox bursts into tears. He can’t help it, he’s freaked out and stressed and this isn’t his body so his control is shot and that name is the name of the person who saw his father DIE in the other timeline-.

Crowe and Lib exchange looks, dreading having to tell Nyx her soulmate is an anti-refugee or something, when Nox struggles his tears under control and wobbly asks to borrow a phone. Libertus cautiously hands him one and Nox dials a number, but instead of the mysterious “Uncle”, Nox holds the phone to his ear and when the other end picks up asks with a cracking voice, “Axis? This is … this is Nox. Um … I don’t suppose you found … my body? Because apparently I’m not in it for the day? You did? Oh…. Okay. Okay good. …No. No I’m not … I’m just … this is a shock. No. No one told me about this, Uncle never said a word and it’s not like-. Yeah. Umm… yeah hang on,” Nox holds out the phone to Libertus (who is currently wondering what the odds are that the “Axis” Nox just called isn’t one Axis Arra who is about to be in so much trouble) and Libertus takes it.

On the phone is a teen voice, male, not Axis, “Lib, tell me my soulmate is okay.”

“Nyx. He’s … okay. This entire thing freaked him out pretty bad. You with someone right now?”

“Yeah. Axis Arra. Turns out SOMEONE didn’t feel the need to inform the Clans he’d adopted a DRAGONTAUR last year.”

Libertus rears back, stomping his hooves in shock, “A WHAT.”

“You heard me the first time.”

“By the Six.”

Nyx takes a deep breath on the line and Libertus settles immediately, “What. What else is there. Nyx, talk to me.”

Nyx’s tone, even in a foreign body, is the most fragile and angry he’s heard it in a long time, “I am in … a lot of pain right now Lib. Like-. Would willingly check myself into a hospital for the good painkillers level of pain. And according to Axis? This is NORMAL.”

And Libertus thinks of how his first clue to the Switch was Nox sleeping half the Switch day away. Thinks of how exhausting it is to suddenly not be in pain anymore. Thinks of a lone dragontaur with only a mysterious “Uncle” to care for him yet not tell him about soulmates, of a stray that Axis would feel wasn’t SAFE to be known as an Arra or introduced to the Clans-.

He takes a deep breath to keep from snarling. As it is, his rear hoof stomps with a sharp sound that makes Crowe look worried, “You and Axis haul your tails back here as fast as you can. We can … talk about this when you get back.”

“Right. But for the record? I’m never letting my soulmate out of Little Galahd without an escort again. And I’m going to be cashing in my med insurance BIG time.”

Libertus stares down at the body of his best friend, currently inhabited by one frazzled, shaking, probably abused dragontaur teen, and exhales slowly, “Once this gets out? You’re gonna have the entire Glaive pitching in. And the Ostium Clan.”

“Thanks, Big Guy.” Nyx hangs up and Libertus pockets the phone, only telling a nervous Nox that Nyx and Axis are going to make their way to Insomnia, because the only way to stop the switches is to meet face to face. Nox looks relieved and scared all in one and Libertus shares a look with Crowe.

Yeah. They’re never letting Nyx’s soulmate out of their sight again.

[stephicness]

Could you elaborate a bit on Gladio's betrayal in the early development? Also about the even sadder ending? I didn't know about these. Thanks!

Thank the Astrals you asked me about this because I really like talking about it. :D And after talking about it briefly before, I wanted to talk a bit more in depth about it since it’s such an important piece of the development with Gladiolus, and it explains alot about Chapter 10.

So there’s something that some Final Fantasy XV fans don’t like, and that’s bringing up the Versus XIII development. But I have to bring it up when I talk about Gladiolus in the game because this is SUPER important, especially as we see the storyboards of the game being released during the Osaka exhibit recently. So get ready, because we’re gonna talk about Versus XIII, my friends!

To start off, let’s talk about the original basis of Versus XIII and pre-development XV. As we get with the current game, Noctis is off with his allies on a quest to meet with Lunafreya after Insomnia falls to help stop Niflheim from taking over the lands. We get that idea in the original game too, with Noctis and his friends trying to stop Niflheim from bringing Eos to ruin.

But here’s where the first important part of Gladiolus’s characterization came in. In the original plotline, we have, of course, Niflheim betraying Lucis during a peace negotiation, right? However, this is one of the biggest catalyst moments that really change how we see Gladiolus and his character because this plotline was purposed during the pre-development and was written as this during Versus XIII. What am I talking about exactly?

I’m talking about that it wasn’t a Nif that killed Regis like in Kingsglaive. It was Clarus that killed Regis.

You know in the promo art how we see this old looking fart with those amber colored eyes? Where all those faces are lined up and all? Yup. That dude was supposed to be Clarus, as I recall. In the original plotline, it was Clarus that had decided that Regis was unfit for the throne and ultimately betrays him under the guise of Niflheim’s assault on Lucis. It was a far deeper political struggle than it let on, with Clarus thinking Regis wasn’t worthy of the throne, and so he wanted to become king. That sort of thing. Because the entire game is about tragedy and betrayal.

You see what I’m hinting at with this? Because as the game progresses, it’s Gladio that takes up after his father and begins to doubt Noctis’s ability to become king. It’s shown and referenced in the current game too as Gladiolus essentially calls Noctis a little bitch for mourning, and tells Noctis that if he isn’t ready to become king as this point, he should just give up. Kinda messed up when Gladiolus had given Noctis a speech about his duty to make sure Noctis gets back to the throne and all. So it seemed a little odd with that scene being there and then there being no real resolve to it until ten years later when suddenly they’re trying to be buddy buddy before the final battle.

Because, get this – the original plotline called for Gladiolus to betray Noctis. Not just go darkside a bit and then come back after he had a change of heart. Gladiolus literally was an enemy in the original game that you fought against as an antagonist. Because Gladiolus wasn’t going to let someone unfit for the throne continue to be in line for it. Gladiolus still wanted to be friends with Noctis, but the idea of the throne being taken over by someone supposedly as bad as Regis (Clarus might have told Gladio about his dislike for Regis) was something that drove the two apart. And it eventually resulted in Gladiolus only reconciling with Noctis… But not after it was Clarus that kills Gladiolus. Albeit, Clarus was trying to kill Noctis, but Gladiolus still had a loyalty to his friend, just not to his friend being on the throne.

So from the original storyline, Gladiolus’s story was not a happy one. Hell, the entire game wasn’t going to be happy. But with how Square wanted to maintain what conflict Gladio and Noctis had during the newer revamp of the game, they didn’t handle it well because Gladiolus and Noctis were never able to make-up with one another. Because the argument they had, I feel, was meant to have a tragic end. Heck, Noctis had to go through the entire game feeling this sense of despair everywhere he went. Gladiolus died protecting Noctis, Prompto had betrayed Noctis because he was still obedient to his father, Verstael. The only two people who remained loyal to Noctis at the end of the game was Ignis, whom lived, and Stella, who was sickened but still lived as well. This game was far from nice to Noctis and Gladiolus, that’s for certain.

So I hold a little bit of grumpiness about how Square handled Gladiolus because of what we know from the Versus XIII original story. With how the original plot was, I feel like they should have rewritten Gladiolus a little bit more to apply some closure after such a harsh argument like that, especially when that argument was designed to have terrible repercussions at the end of it. If they either decided to pick the original story and went with it or reworked the new story alot more between Gladiolus and Noctis, things would have been much much smoother in Chapter 10, that’s for certain.