#i feel so sad for lahabrea

[mrlarkstin]

I always have a personal fascination with how children change people's characters SO, with this in mind, how did Eramus deal with becoming a father? Was he nervous, scared or excited (or maybe all of them at once)? Are there mistakes in his own upbringing he wants to correct or protect his children from? How did he feel the first time he held them in his arms?

First, thank you for this ask I LOVE talking about Eramus and his relationship with his kids!

Second, buckle up, here comes the lore drop lmao.

Eramus' children are his everything. His oldest, Harklan, is the whole reason he became the Warrior of Light originally. He never really wanted to have a child as early as he did (21), he wanted to wait until he at least was closer to 30 or in his 30s (I like to HC that Elezen life spans are similar to D&D elves life spans, I believe we also got a bit of a look at the life spans of elves on the First when a Viera said "We live longer then three of your elven lives" or something, anyways thats just me rambling and my own little HC territory lmao, I like D&D) but his partner at the time (Lahabrea in disguise, but that is a WHOLE other lore drop for another post LMAO) had other plans and the two ended up having Harklan. It, was not a pleasant experience at the beginning (CW: Pregnancy talk) and Eramus was RIDDLED with fear, anxiety and depression, he didn't enjoy his pregnancy like a lot of his friends and such had, he was scared, nervous, something wasn't sitting right and it was genuinely a very unpleasant experience. Not to mention how odd his partner was acting towards him and their unborn child. By the time Harklan was born Eramus was extremely depressed and distant towards his child, his partner was acting strange towards Harklan and Eramus really just, didn't know how to be a father. He was scared, he didn't know what to do and would constantly call his mother for help, advice, anything. He loved his son, but he was scared of him.

After some time, Eramus began to warm up to the boy and started to fall in love with him. But it was also around that time that his partner's whole attitude changed, he wanted the boy gone and demanded they try again, that Harklan was "wrong", everything was wrong. Confused, Eramus didn't agree and said that Harklan was perfect just the way that he was. But his partner didn't agree. And not to get into it (its another post's lore drop LMAO) but one night, Eramus grabbed his son and fled into the night, running away from Gridania, running away from his life, his home and going into hiding for a couple years with his son before slowly reappearing and starting his journey as the WOL (there is a lot more but this is the TLDR). Harklan, is the whole reason Eramus left on his journey and even became the wol, the intense desire to protect his son is what caused his partners downfall (another lore post LMAO) and him to become the saviour of the Star.

There was a lot of trouble on the road, trying to care and raise a toddler while on the road, while trying to keep him happy and protect those around him. He didn't know if what he was doing was right, he his son resented him for not letting him set down and roots anywhere. Eramus had to hide his emotions constantly, he'd have to remain calm and collected in tense situations all so his son would not pick up on his emotions and get scared, sad or panic. His mother taught him so much, but there was so much more he had to learn on his own, he couldn't turn to anyone for years until he finally, finally stopped Lahabrea once and for all.

Eramus refuses profusely to talk about Harklan's father, he won't even tell Estinien or Vrtra. Only one person knows and thats Thancred, and Thancred would never tell anyone without Eramus' express permission.

His love for his son is what caused him to lose his leg (another lore drop LMAOOOOOO omg, there is so much I am SO sorry this is never ending), his love for his son is what caused him to become wol, to become a hero.

By the time he died in Ultima Thule and Vrtra's blood gave him new life his son was 7 and told him that he never resented his upbringing, thanks to his dad he got to see SO much more then any other kid will ever get to see.

Annndd then Eramus wound up pregnant again. LMAO. New body, new anatomy, new everything and, well...(CW: Eggpreg) he found out he was pregnant with an egg after a night of passion with Estinien and Vrtra. Something, none of them knew how to deal with. Eramus is a dragon now and this is now something he has to deal with.

Being pregnant with Altan egg was as scary, if not more scary then when he was pregnant with Harklan. None of them knew what to do, his blessing of light and his Oath (>.>) interrupted his full transformation into a dragon, like how other Ishgardians turn fully and eventually cannot revert back to their humanoid forms, Eramus can freely transform between the two (<.< >.>) and that caused a lot of confusion. He grew scales, fangs, his pupils slit, he should be a dragon, but he was stuck in a half and half state and they weren't sure if he was carrying a clutch, they prayed he was so it would be easier to birth, or if it was just one egg.

But this time, he had loving and caring partners who supported him, a son who was cheering him on and excited to meet his new sibling or siblings. Despite some fear, this time, he was excited. Happy and looking forward to his new little one.

When Altan hatched, he cried holding her in his arms, he was so happy. SO excited. His little family was whole, he was surrounded by love and so much happiness.

INHALES

TLDR: HE LOVES HIS KIDS AND WOULD ACTUALLY DIE FOR THEM THANKS OKAY BYE MWAH THANK YOU FOR THE ASK

HAVE HIS WHOLE FAMILY! HIS ADOPTIVE PARENTS, BOTH PARTNERS AND HIS CHILDREN! WOOOOO

[dainesanddaffodils]

(I realize, half-way through Heavensward, that I still have this in drafts so I'm going to post it now)

Finishing A Realm Reborn, I've decided to make a post about my warrior of light's relationships with the scions/major NPCs, which I'll then recreate at the end of each expansion as a fun way to track how she and these characters grow and change.

Without further ado - Cimorene Geneq's POST-ARR Relationship Vibes

Minfilia - her boss! a very nice boss, don't get her wrong, but her boss nonetheless. Would love to get to know her better but there's never a good time plus she feels like Minfilia is probably the type to be like 'you have to be at least a level 5 friend to unlock my tragic backstory' and Cimorene is like level 3 at best. still likes her though.

Alphinaud - the younger cousin that's closest to you in age that everyone groups you with at the family functions. She would kill anyone who looked sideways at him - and got very very worried about him when the Bloody Banquet went down - but also oooof did she want some space from him sometimes.

Y'shtola - at first incredibly intimidated by her, but that's faded and now she's probably the only scion she would call a Friend. still in like the work-friend sense but like, she would get a drink with her and listen to her talk shit any day of the week.

Thancred - an instant infatuation that faded just as quickly once she realized his charm was mostly surface level lmao Is a little unsure how to interact with him post-lahabrea nonsense as, more than anything, it drove home that she really didn't know him that well beforehand and, like with Minifillia, she feels like there's a barrier keeping her from knowing him better.

Tataru - I, Tangy the player, had a Boring Office Job for a while where the highlight was the very sweet receptionist who also knew all the fun gossip. This is what Tataru is for Cimorene. absolute joy to talk to, want nothing but good things for her.

Yda - a little too high energy to be a work-friend like Y'shtola or even Tataru, but similarly wants nothing but good things for her. will take her side when Papalymo gets on her for anything - in part just because it's kinda funny to watch his reaction when she does.

Papalymo: I, Tangy the player, adore him and therefor so does Cimorene. he and Yda were her first scion allies and she will always have a soft spot in her heart for that.

Urianger - he gives her the heebie-jeebies. he has nothing else to give.

Moenbryda - too good for this world. Cimorene is sad about her death but is also sad about the fact that everyone else is obviously SADDER about it. It's not the first time she feels somewhat isolated from the other Scions, but it does kinda push her to want to change that. (Then the Bloody Banquet happens lmao)

(outside the Scions)

Kan-E - similar feels-like-my-boss energy as Minfillia, except Kan-E isn't even Cimorene's boss. Respectful professional distance and happy to keep it that way.

Merlwyb - Cimorene loves the sea so she chose to join the Maelstrom for that alone. That being said, she does like and respect Merlwyb a lot and doesn't think she'll ever regret her choice.

Raubahn - Didn't know what to think of him early on, and already didn't like Ul-Dah BEFORE shit went down there. Regrets not getting to know him better earlier now that she knows he's a Real One (tm). Cares about him a lot by the end of... you know. Everything.

Nanamo - Man, Tangy the player doesn't know how to describe the relationship between you and someone you, once again, had a respectful but mostly distant relationship who then winds up getting poisoned in front of you, completely altering the trajectory of your life. And neither does Cimorene.

Haurchefant - Love At First Sight, genuinely. I've talked about this so much before but I cannot stress enough how much it took me, Tangy the player, by surprise. she knows he feels the same because as we all know he is Not Subtle about it, but she'd also still really like to have a moment of privacy where they can actually say - or do - something about it.

Aymeric - right now she considers him the Ishgard equivalent of the other city state leaders and, in spite his best efforts she knows, she remains somewhat intimidated by him. he's kind but just. Very Formal. in that very Ishgard way that she doesn't know how to respond to (which is in part why she is so taken with Haurchefant)

-

that's really the main ARR players that Cimorene has any real strong feelings towards so that's where I'll leave it.

We'll see what happens through Heavensward and I'll post again lol

[windupaidoneus]

walks back in with a comfortable chair and snacks. i am having SUCH a good time reading all of these,,, and also i DO want to know abt how hilde feels abt hermes and lahabrea. wait hold on i have an idea for a second ask,

giggles. the hermes one is suchhhhhh a toughie. not to answer but like. ouhhh hilde is feeling some kinds of ways about hermes (& fandaniel subsequently)! oooooh!

goddd hermes. arguably the person who treated him with the most respect among the ancients... or at least the one who treated him with respect the fastest. it felt like there was a genuine understanding there, & especially as hermes opened up on his feelings wrt elpis & life & death & his clear capacity for grief the others seemed to be lacking (which. i mean you know hildegarde. he has been making out with grief sloppy style for so many fucking years. emet & hythlodaeus being so fine with death, even of "lesser creatures" since hilde does not have that concept really of viewing some beings as more or less important, really threw him off. but especially knowing the emet he knew. also known griever.). hermes was the first person on elpis that made him go "wait, maybe i could tell him. maybe if i told him things would go differently." before remembering that that is literally impossible he cannot change his present only his future. Sad! either way though he did feel a connection to hermes, which. is also bc lachesis & hermes were close.

& then hermes fucked it & successfully traumatised hildegarde further 🎉 needless to say he uh. did not feel so positively about him for a while but admittedly he wasn't feeling positively about Anybody during that time probably. likely clung to nero & ardbert for a semblance of stability & nero wasnt even around so ardbert had to go out & seek him out on hildes behalf bc he was too withdrawn & in shock to front.

i think though after everything especially with aitiascope & all that he's just. yknow. he's not a grudge holder... not on those matters anyway. he forgives very easily bc he just. he's very emotional & very easily swayed by other people's emotions. i don't want to say hyperempathetic but honestly i think that might be the case ... very hard for him to stay mad at someone very seriously under most circumstances too. he wasn't even that mad at zenos honestly he just wanted zenos to come off it & would've preferred a peaceful resolution both times. at the end of the day hildegarde feels deep sorrow for hermes the same way he does elidibus among others. above all else he wishes he could've done something before it was too late. hermes was a friend & one of many hilde feels he's failed.

with lahabrea it's... he feels a lot of pity for lahabrea? also respect. he's one of those people he's now met before the final days & the sundering happened & the memory of lahabrea in his mind is just... lahabrea during ancient times. thinking about what ended up becoming of him makes him feel some guilt in the sense that obviously he does not have foresight & couldn't have known he would end up meeting lahabrea in the past, but part of him still blames himself for not knowing because if he had maybe he could've reached out to lahabrea in a meaningful way & he didn't have to die blablabla... the usual. i think he's probably a little intimidated at first but as pandaemonium progresses more of lachesis' dynamic with lahabrea instinctively comes back to him. & he's kinda. just being lahabrea's weird friend. like it still feels more formal than the dynamic lachesis had with laha back then but yeah. eek. yet another tragedy hilde feels responsible for YAHOOOOO

[yuri-cocaine]

i finished pandae so thoughts below the cut BUT I HAVE TO YELL ABOUT SOMETHING FIRST

IVALICE STANS HOW WE DOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i knew there has to be a reason why themis looks like ramza beyond “it’s a cute shonen face” and there has to be a reason why lahabrea’s dark armor creations were in mullonde!!! the heart of sabik is auracite that athena tampered with and what do you know, xiv’s ultima the high seraph is a primal summoned from another world. i’ve been crackpot theorizing lahabrea was behind the summoning of ultima and manipulating the war of lions based on nothing but the presence of the dark armor miniboss and now we get actual confirmation that his wife is the first to make contact with auracite and possibly ultima too. themis’s ramza resemblance is probably symbolic but i wouldn’t rule out that ramza has even met elidibus before.

AURACITE EXISTED BEFORE THE SUNDERING. ULTIMA THE HIGH SERAPH EXISTED BEFORE THE SUNDERING. 

this might also explain why the convocation seats are named after the scions of light from ff12--because they first convocation members probably were the actual scions of light that rose in opposition to the lucavi. elidibus and azem seats could be added later idk

the heart of sabik being auracite could also explain why lahabrea went from Stern Professor Who Won’t Round Up Your Grade to the bonkers version we know. auracite amplifies and twists your desires into something destructive, like with bagamnan and his wish to destroy the garlean empire. lahabrea’s duty to the star was probably similarly warped to him taking glee in destroying the shards, explaining why he’s a mustache twirling cackling villain as opposed to emet seeing the rejoining as a depressing burden. 

final thing: lahabrea is all about fire magicks. his sigil is from mateus’s glyph tho, and mateus is an esper of ice. he really is in opposition to mateus, and his dual personality even references the og mateus the ivalice one is named after. this has layers. 

about the fights: the first one was kinda easy, the second was a bit tricky, the third killed me bc i was too busy crying, BUT ATHENA. HOLY FUCK. SHE’S A GORGEOUS BUTTERFLY THAT SUMMONS HIGH SERAPH ADDS. i saw yet another take about how xiv female bosses are all sexy and boring but like....athena is supposed to be beautiful that’s how she masks her sinister motives and why she got so many ppl under her sway. let’s use our noggins before making hot takes on patch day 1 for clout. 

im so fucking glad that the “erich is our lahabrea” theory got debunked lol. i thought claudien was an erich shard because they share similar skin tone and eye color. that’s why when erich bade us farewell, i wasn’t too sad because he’s still here in aporia and we can talk to him whenever we want. (unlike ryne and gaia....haha..... ;_;)

THEMIS THO ;-; im glad they made it canon that the wol feels absolutely terrible about killing elidibus. in the ew msq we have the options of saying “I’m sorry.” to elidibus before he sends us to elpis, and now in pandae we look miserable when themis tells us athena is making him fight us. the scene when he’s starting to dissipate in the convocation meeting room mirrors his last moments in 5.3, but this time we save him!!!!! my wol finally got off her ass and used her healing on him!!!!!! way to go yuma 

i lost my mind when themis spoke to us as a friend tho. he has the face of a kyoani protag and the deepest voice in the cast. i will miss you so much my fluffy boy!!!!!! you deserve all the happiness in the world!!!! when he was drifting in the aetherial sea and the light started shining i was crying i hope his next life is full of joy. 

(massive copium: no themis minion means we get to see him again in the future even tho he should be like a baby lol)

i liked when erich said that he went around looking for the wol after abyssos wrapped up. my headcanon is that he approached my azem and asked to see the absurdly strong rabbit person familiar again, and azem was like “uhhh ummm okay....here” and she pulls out a little red bunny. “this is her resting mode,” says azem. “she used up too much strength investigating pandaemonium.”

[ladyramora]

Erichthonios x Taimu Comm

Romance, Angst, Feels & Fluff

Rating: Teen

Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV

Main Characters: Erichthonios, Taimu

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

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

…..

….

…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Was this enough to bring her a measure of comfort?

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

It was not that he minded at all, except…

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

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

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

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

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

He could give her this much, at least.

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

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

He needed to put forth more effort.

All he could muster, through any means.

Anything to bring back her smile.

….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Erichthonios did not want to share anything, but…

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

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

“‘Tis as good a reason as any.”

Erichthonios nods. “I know.”

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

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

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

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

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

Taimu had shown him true happiness.

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

….

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

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

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

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

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

….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Had he done wrong? Was she unhappy?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Is it the moon?” Taimu asks.

Erichthonios’ head tilts, “Moon?”

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

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

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

Taimu nods.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Taimu smiles.

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

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

Taimu laughs and reaches for the sandwiches first.

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

They both take a bite and sigh happily.

His efforts had paid off, they were delicious.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She was achingly, breathtakingly lovely.

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

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

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

Erichthonios swallows hard. “Good.”

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

“Yum,” she agrees.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It warms his heart to hear her giggle.

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

Perhaps he would preserve it for her.

A small memento, hers to keep.

It would be simple enough to do.

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

Thank goodness, he had done it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Her happiness was his happiness.

She was his everything.

[candycryptids]

🍷: What's one of your OC's pet peeves concerning food? for Mochiie

🍻: What's your OC's favourite comfort ritual? How do they calm themselves down after a rough day? for Levraut

🍒: Has Your OC had their first kiss yet? If so, with who? for Ishi'li

🎂: Has your OC have any contradictory interests or traits to the first preception people have of the? How do they surprise people? for Chuusday

🍰: What's something your OC counts as unforgivable? for Tuesday

So firstly I’m showering you in flower petals and handing you a party napkin (Pokémon themed) with three cookies on it

🍷[Food Rituals; Mochiie] Mochi’s peeve is food made for the sake of making ‘pretty/aesthetic/art’ food (things like, you get a plate of one bite. He wants food to be filling and nourishing and shareable lmao.) His other peeve is making food spicy just for the sake of it being spicy, disregarding flavor (Zero makes him so nuts. The fact that the smell alone of her preferred curry makes him physically Ill doesn’t help, lmao)

🍻 [Comfort Rituals; Levraut ] depends on if it’s been a STRESSFUL day or a SAD day, lmao. Stressful days, nothing a round of drinks at the drowning wench can’t help fix (and a rowdy brawl, probably; flirting badly with another man’s girl is a great way to catch a stray fist, which leads readily to an intentional fist, which leads to a bucket of ice water and being thrown out for the evening, but as it goes.) Sad days tend to be soothed with three pints and then sitting on the dock and staring at the reflection of the sky (hopefully there’s a moon to look at!) and. Reflecting. Possibly writing down a mess of words for later, to work through what he’s thinking/feeling at the time

🍒 [First Kiss; Ishi’li] Ishi’s first kiss is, I Think with Keathan ( @zombiesockfuckinglovescardfight is that right?) but its for the silliest reasons which is that he wanted to. Have Experience and. He’s been adventuring now for at least a year and hasn’t done ANYTHING like other adventurers beside sleep on the hard ass ground and take down an empire and have a rivalry turned friendship with tension and nonsense with Kizuna (the main WoL) (his first kiss with Kizuna I thiiink doesn’t occur for quite some time after…. Not one they’d both qualify as a First Kiss. I think it’s Late-Shadowbringers….)

🎂 [Contradictory/Surprising Interest/Trait; Chuusday] Chuu’s first impression on people is usually less than hinged woman who will become scarce the moment the situation no longer interest her; I.E. there’s no more allagan/Garlean tech to look at.. her surprising trait would likely be intense love for Carbuncles. Since she disregards most other Organic Creatures (her Chocobo, Friday is cared for by Tuesday or the stablehands, they have a very Professional relationship and it’s tailored towards combat rather than Transport) she’s not even a proper summoner; her skills extend as far as being able to summon a Carbuncle because they’re the ideal creature. No need for food or water and when you’re busy they can be dissipated into the aether… (but you CAN feed them table scraps… most excellent creature) (Talia and Cid might be the only people to KNOW this, though)

🍰 [Unforgivable Action; Tuesday] it’s hard to find the morality line for him the earlier in his lifetime you get. A lot of his lines had to be programmed or Taught through experiences- but by the time Shadowbringers comes around an unforgivable action ends up being an action that violates someone’s Self (G’Raha was on thin ice for a while because of the soul snatching, the thing Lahabrea did to Thancred in ARR would also fall under this but obviously happened before he was alive lol. The way Minfilia’s were trained and made to do one specific thing, the, being a chosen hero shaped into a Hero’s image, it hits a gray area, but Ranjit firmly placed himself in the red zone through his use of force against Ryne… this was an interesting thing to think about 🥰)

[Ask Meme !]

[asteriasfallingstarsandtears]

Stepping (mostly) away from the 14 Fandom has definitely allowed me to re-evaluate how I feel about characters and other things in the game and how much of it was just me trying to fit in or swayed by public opinion.

Like, I still love G'raha, but most people I was associated with didn't so much so I never really discussed him except as part of my Hadestown AU. I still prefer his Crystal Exarch and Crystal Tower versions over his Endwalker. Hope in Dawntrail he can chill out a little over the hero worship but I also know some people like that, but also my dude, we saved the universe together, you don't need to uwu me.

Still really enjoy Emet-Selch, Lahabrea and Elidibus in my own interpretations of them being sad old men. I like all three of them slowly losing their minds, or quickly in Lahabrea's case I guess, and Elidibus being a shell of what he was with few attachments and memories, driven only by the barest memory of Duty, Love and his other half's need to feed on Aether (Zodiark, personal HC of why he keeps demanding more and more sacrifices, it takes a lot of aether to power something so massive for so long and do the miracles such as fixing the aethereal balance and rejuvenating the planet). Emet losing himself over and over chasing half ghosts of Azem over Millenia does something to me, I HC he made the Hyth shade out of loneliness and imbued too much of himself in it, making it too much of Hythlodaeus but also too much Emet and it reminds him of it every time he sees it. Lahabrea likewise chased his family over the eons, seeing his son die and be reborn over and over on top of the personal horrors he must feel for actively working to destroy the Star just to remake it probably wrung what little stability he had left in his mind post rejoining of the Hephaistos half. Not to mention 12k years of Athena insidiously whispering in his ears from the Heart.

The Scions, I like them, Alisaie is still my favorite little sister for my WoL, and Alphinaud for all he's annoying at first, really endeared himself to me in later expacs. They are Family with a capital F to my WoL, to the point she would have murdered Forchenault for disowning them if she had had the opportunity. I have very strong feelings on disownment for seemingly petty seeming reasons, having had it happen to myself. It was very much a Immediate Hatred Of Character Moment. Sure he had A Reason but I still stand there and side eye him hard.

Thancred remains a favourite as well, I like the personal growth he goes through, how he changes from the rakish bard with a silver tongue to a sad and broken man to sad broken dad to someone who at the end of the world gave everything he could to save his family from total destruction. I also appreciate his morbid jokes as someone who likewise feels just broken sometimes, who doesn't want to sometimes burn the world down makes me cackle so much.

Y'shtola I also rather still like, especially when she's allowed to be a bit, and pardon the pun, catty. She grew up with Matoya, cattiness was her bread and butter. Let a queen live her dream of world hopping and sassy retorts. The magical girl routine and the end of patch 6.5 where she's like There is no other version of this spell, right WoL? Makes me so happy.

Urianger I have mixed feelings on, mostly because I just don't understand him as a character. I know he's supposed to be all Mysterious and stuff but I really just standing man when he's expositioning. It's probably a thing to do with his Shakespearean way of speaking when no one else does (I guess Hydaelyn kinda does). He's fine.

Krile, I really like her in general. She's a side character that made it to main character status and I'm so proud of her. She makes me happy with how she is somehow the cutest cat ear wearing girl but also the terrifying creature that haunts Estinien's dreams. I look forward to seeing her shine more in Dawntrail.

More Thoughts (tm) Later.

[nosafeharbour]

Pandæmonium: Anabaseios thoughts/reactions

Hoo, boy... I have so many thoughts and emotions that I need to untangle here. I wrote up some initial reactions as I played, but I'm glad I slept on it and went back through my screenshots to mull them over.

I liked it. I think it's one of the strongest raid tiers in story and set pieces both. Do I like it over Abyssos? I can't say, I'll have to see how I feel in the future. Last night I felt a lot more conflicted over it, than I do today! Letting it sit in my mind was a good thing.

My Abyssos thoughts are here, if curious!

The first fight was so cool! Loved the voice acting, and the memories/souls... especially the mage, who was giving me Mhachi mage vibes. I want to make them into an OC... the martialist and just, a Behemoth, were also very neat

[blows up myself up with my mind]

He did the italicised you... my favourite...

Lahabrea and Erichthonios hanging out with us so casually in the Aitiascope is very charming... especially the researchers cowering away. I can’t believe these are some of the only two people alive outside of the Scions to have ever seen an Ancient

You’re scaring the hoes

When I tell you that I started quaking and did not stop until I finished the tier. The incredibly stormy maelstrom of feelings over “I’m getting the thing I wanted, but I don’t know how it’s gonna go or make me feel yet”

Oh, the places we shall see! The sad faces we shall make! God, she’s really going through it

This area was gorgeous... I love it when they put my monochrome WoL in monochrome spaces. The hand and eye motifs here were stunning

The Pandæmonium fight itself was SO cool... the voice acting and mechanics were really fun. This is probably the fight (asides from P12S P2) that I’m the most curious to see in Savage

[nervous shrieking laughter]

ABSOLUTELY adore this. I was really hoping it was going to be what the Heart of Sabik looked like, or representative of it, in a way.

[shoving my entire fist in my mouth]

Gaius mention... while Lahacred is on screen... nodding, smiling

The slow zoom as they silently stared at each other... pretty sure Lahabrea knows that Albi could confirm his suspicions, but neither of them want to say anything.

I quite like the framing of this memory of Lahabrea - we’re picking up where we left off after knowing him in Abyssos, a “version” of him from closer to the Final Days, but with the context of nothing he learns or experiences here having any impact on the “real” Lahabrea that we meet later on. We get the character set piece, without any longlasting character growth. He gets to learn about his future self, but not in a way that impacts that future. For the WoL, it’s such an interesting mix. A man discovering his future horrors. But WoL is reluctant to say anything, so it’s a very stubborn game of chess.

It’s from here on, with the real and grounded Heart of Sabik lore, that my thoughts get much more complicated! Not in a bad way, I’m just overwhelmed.

It is interesting that it does, ultimately, all stem back to the High Seraph. I have/had a complicated view of the Ivalice raids... even as somebody who loves FF Tactics, I felt at the time that they felt too much like transplanting FFT/XII lore into FFXIV in a way that didn’t feel as smooth and natural as other homages. I didn’t enjoy Ivalice until The Orbonne Monastery, and Bozja, the latter of which did the most for soothing those feelings... The implication that the Heart of Sabik was auracite that stemmed from the High Seraph, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. I’m still not sure how I feel about it! At the very least, I can really respect them holding fast to their own internal lore. Ivalice isn’t any less important or major, for being a piece of side content.

Equally interesting that the reason Azys Lla was involved, specifically the Aetherochemical Research Facility, was because Lahabrea was still carrying the Heart of Sabik with him until the day he died. The memories of Athena still within it, called out to the shard of Erichthonios... I had hoped that there was going to be some further connection to “our” Lahabrea and where he seemingly died there, but I guess he truly did die. Again, respect holding fast to their lore!

So Ultima, as a spell and a concept in all of it’s forms from Ivalice, to  Pandæmonium, and finally to the Ultima Weapon and Werlyt, does truly originate from Ultima, the High Seraph. But the Heart of Sabik itself, has the most major ties to Athena. I’ll put my more specific thoughts on Ultima at the end.

bbbbbbbbbb

Oh my god... they did it... I really love Elidibus a lot (in a “sleeper agent” way where I don’t think about him much until he’s on screen in front of me, but he is the other Ascian other than Lahabrea that really had me invested and hanging onto the Ancients plot) but I’m so, so glad for the Elidibus fans. To get to see his true form, and for it to really lean into the blind justice themes, it’s so good. I’m emotional

And the arena... this truly is the original meeting hall/chambers for the Convocation, is it not? The way it directly mirrors the meeting space the Ascians use in the Rift is amazing. The light pouring in through the windows, the views of Amaurot outside of them... amazing. The sigil on the banners surrounding the hall is Lahabrea’s, so I wonder if this is the Speaker’s hall, in some manner?

P11 itself made me tear up randomly during the fight, lmao, I don’t remember the last time that happened... maybe the Werlyt trials, or Endsinger... the music hitting crescendos, seeing attack names that so closely catered to Elidibus lovers, and the feelings of this being the truly last chapter to the Ascians/Ancients... it got to me.

Ahh... so I have complex feelings about Albi ever using/giving her aether out like this, even when the WoL does it fairly often. After her incident at The Ghimlyt Dark in 4.5, she hasn’t been able to control her aether in a manner she could offer it to others, and even since recovering enough to return to the mantle of Black Mage, it’s still something that she’d pause before doing.

But this moment felt right. It reminded me of this moment, the last time Albi did something of the sort;

And considering who that was done to defeat, it feels poetic!

Additionally, I’ve had a lot of thoughts since Abyssos about Albi’s aether... I’ve been bouncing back and forth on this idea of Lahabrea doing something with her aether, half motivated by him actually imbuing you with some in order to summon allies just before P8, but also because an Ancient who is so heavily aspected to fire, who already does comment on the WoL’s strange composition, wouldn’t be able to not notice Albi’s still inbalanced fire-aspected aether. I’ve had some scenes I wasn’t sure if I wanted to write or draw, but now I’m just certain that he did take note of it... I think the context is that he gives her some aether after she’s so worn out and woozy from P8, and while it’s not something she consents or agrees to, his feeble poke does help mend the last bits of damage to her aether. This is a story for another time, but, it all goes into this moment with Albi’s aether.

Tangent over!

These lines of dialogue just really hit.

I really adore this design, as much as I am like. Oh my god noooo the lunar moth with eyes thing was my Light Warden/Titania design for Albi! First she took Ultima from me, and now this badass design. I’m happy but like NO, WAIT lmao

Considering Athena has the same hair colour/style as me irl and I’ve always found that amusing, I’m... she’s taken everything from me...

(I really, really like Athena, so I’m allowing it)

I like that she’s simply Theos, to go with the Hemitheos title that the others got. She’s a full god.

The High Seraph’s angels... I know I already talked about my thoughts on the High Seraph, but it was only implied until post-raid. This is the moment I was like ohhhhh yeah, this is 100%

OH, THIS IS... THIS... [shoves my entire fist in my mouth, again]

Glad that we wiped 2 or 3 times, so I could get a few different angles on this. She’s doing the same gesture with the arms, and it’s the same effect, as when the Ultima Weapon casts Ultima.

And it’s called Theos’s Ultima... I only noticed this going over these screenshots again. The Weapons in Werlyt used Optimised Ultima, there’s this, and then I think only Ultima Weapon and Pandæmonium use “just” Ultima. Unsure about the High Seraph, perhaps she does too? I’ll have thoughts about this later!

It was very cool to see what a person using Ultima looks like! Again, I’ll have thoughts about this at the end. The elephant in the room on my personal WoL lore, lmao

I do like Athena, as a character... I’ve always wanted more women villains, especially one who is so unapologetic, and covers the facet of the Ancients that I didn’t initially vibe with; Hermes touched upon it, but the power to create and destroy, and act as a steward of life, is something that cannot only breed good.

And I love Erichthonios... I liked his send-off. He got the emotional farewell/”death” for the sake of the player and their journey. We know the true Erichthonios is sundered later on, but we get this moment

Ah... I am just... ahhhh

Here it is, here’s The Scene. This ended up being so close to a lot of what I wanted for their moment of closure, including the setting, but different enough in ways that were surprising and refreshing

You are him. The option and delivery here was just so perfect, I am going to think about this line forever.

Lahabrea calmly putting the pieces together, asking this, and having the calm response back from WoL... understanding the journey his future self went through, and not even faulting it, because he is so sure in his sense of self that he can see how he would go down that path. This isn’t like Emet balking at the idea of the things he did and calling it fiction, this was Lahabrea understanding, cursing his future blindness, but not even refuting what he does.

While we did not get the moment I really wanted, where we speak to the culmination of “our” Lahabrea who recognises us from ARR and HW, as well as Pandæmonium’s Lahabrea, this might fit his character more. It’s a nice moment in the writing. It’s a moment of dignity for ARR/HW Lahabrea, almost, recognising his acts but not dragging them to the spotlight.

And again, the way he simply and calmly accepts these acts. I love the moment of Claudien thanking him, and recognising him as the Speaker and not as the Ascian, because it’s another full-stop on the note of Lahabrea being someone who was so respected and adored. But Lahabrea, with his calm (”a calm heart stays the course”...) and collected mind, can simply brush that aside. I become your enemy, and your enemy deserves no sympathy.

Everyone (including Albi simply smiling at him) heckling him to accept the thanks is sweet, though. “If you insist on deceiving yourselves, then so be it. My stance remains unchanged.”... I like this writing a lot...

I also really liked Lahabrea’s “I will hear no more, you are not him” in response to Claudien wanting to bring up Erichthonios’s memory. It was a nice touchpoint back to the theme of “you are you, and nobody else” from Shadowbringers... we are neither Ardbert, nor Azem, Gaia is not Loghrif, and Claudien is not Erichthonios. Albi has a lot of complicated thoughts in regards to Azem in her interactions with Lahabrea, particularly in this scene, feeling as if she “should” be doing or saying certain things in order to honour their memory. So this was a good moment in which to hear Lahabrea say this.

I know this is not the “real” Lahabrea, but having this, in the eyes of the player and in context, essentially be his last words... ah... it’s good. It’s sad, and lacks the amount of emotional closure I really did want, but in a way that is simply so succint and fitting of Lahabrea’s character. He’s not as sentimental towards us as someone like Themis, or even Emet-Selch. This is fitting, for him, even if my heart wanted more.

There isn’t always a happy ending. You can’t always have things turn out how you want.

One last trip to wrap things up... Hegemone!! I dressed up as you for Halloween raid night last year. Good to see you

Hehe... I just wanted to say hello... :’)

This is one of the coolest shots and lines of dialogue in the whole raid series. I adore him.

Ah... he did it! It happened! While I suppose he did live without Hephaistos for a fairly long period of time before we encounter him in Abyssos, I was surprised that he’d rejoin with that piece of him so relatively quickly, afterwards. I was anticipating it to be right near the Final Days, if not afterwards? But this was a good scene. I liked the subtle change in him, after - he is still himself, but with that slightly sharper edge.

And then oh my god, we got The Scene... 2

Ah... I guess this is a nice counterpart to the more emotional, wistful farewell scene. Reading these lines again made me misty eyed though, lmao... This is underlining his stance; I am committed to my course, regardless of where it takes you. We are not alike.

I like it! It’s such a clear paralell to Emet’s final final words to us in Ultima Thule... my convictions are invincible. Considering I had issues with them softening up Emet a bit too much in his sentimentality for us, I like that they went out of their way to do the opposite with Lahabrea.

It’s curious - going by Erichthonios’s epilogue, and their mention of the event at the start, the memory versions we journeyed with were created right before the Final Days, they knew about their impending doom. The Lahabrea who gave us his softer farewells also has these memories of this more divisive parting. We got both the respected, wise man of days gone, but also this more haughty man who lines up more with the image we have of him as a villain... hm... I’m going to dwell upon this a lot and come back to it.

In both scenes, I do like his final words. At the same time, I’m glad they’re not his final words from the viewpoint of the Ascian, just in that I don’t have to redo my Final Words sticker set... LOL... but maybe a second set, with these Ancient versions of their final words

Erichthonios’s memory epilogue was good. I like how it all came back to the start.

This screenshot just feels so fake. To be holding the Heart of Sabik so casually... I wish it looked a little bit cooler. I was ready to make an enamel pin, or something.

Speaking of epilogues... damn.

I was SO shocked that this scene was voiced, as I’m sure many were. I’m so, so glad though. He deserved this; we got a bit of this in Endwalker, but getting this semi-final version of him created from pieces of him in the lifestream, meaning he is as complete enough as needed for this closure, with all his memories... it was good. It was very poignant.

This is a “where you go my dearest friend, fate shall surely follow” level of good line. God. This one is going to stick with me.

Goodbye.

Some final optional dialogue with Claudien to confirm the Heart of Sabik’s direct relation to the High Seraph... and there we have it! All done.

I’ll be honest, when I finished this last night, I knew I liked it but... felt depressed, nonetheless. I suppose it was a feeling not unlike grief, that in one day, I’d just seen the end of Gaius and Lahabrea’s stories, as well as the wider Ancients story. And while the latter has not engaged me so much in Endwalker as it did in the past, it’s still been such an ongoing thread, and Pandæmonium has felt like the only part of Endwalker I’ve really connected to... and now it’s over.

Today, especially after going through these screenshots again, and realising I was running on 3 hours of sleep yesterday, I am feeling much better.

I am still slightly sad that Lahabrea did not get as much focus in this raid series as I’d hoped! I wanted this to be his moment of closure equivalent to the Dying Gasp and the Seat of Sacrifice. Not only was the Hephaistos fight not his “true” self in the same manner as Hades, in the end... Emet and Themis just got ANOTHER set of nice moments of closure, in Ultima Thule and then in P11. Having seen Themis’s true form now, it only stands out more how we never saw Lahabrea’s. Themis got that voiced cutscene, but nothing from Lahabrea. I think I’m always going to be slightly hung up on that.

The other thing I felt weirdly conflicted about was that Ultima means so much to me - there’s this nervous energy that comes from having the Heart of Sabik now cleared up and attributed to other characters. Ultima coming in during the music in the Final Day made me cry when I first heard it, and I decided that Albi uses Ultima during that fight, with the help of some post-Werlyt research into the relics left behind from that, and dynamis. Last night, after finishing Anabaseios, I was left feeling like I couldn’t even use that any more. I never liked the High Seraph much, I was sad that none of the music in this raid tier even used the Ultima leitmotif, and now it was Athena’s “thing”...

But the whole point of Albi using Ultima was that she was reclaiming it in the name of hope, as she has done with Allagan relics before it, as she did with all of the final boss motifs in the Final Day’s theme. I’m still keeping it. :) Seeing that Athena’s was call Theos’s Ultima, I’m thinking Albi’s might just have a different name, too. Magi’s Ultima, or something. I’ll work on it.

My god, this post became so long. But I had a lot riding on Anabaseios! I’m happy with it. I’m glad that of all the tiers this expansion, the one I raided most fully was Abyssos, though, and that is possibly still one that means the most to me. But I’m looking forward to casually progging Anabaseios, and seeing what P12S might be like!

Lahalbi... real? Not really, not in the ways I’d hoped. But they mean a lot to me, as does Ultima.

[thefinalwitness]

l'aiha and thancred get a nice bit of their own healing done in shb too, regarding each other. that and post-heavensward when they find out what happened to minfilia are the two instances where they engage one another, which they don't do almost at all otherwise because of the ARR ifrit thing. (l'aiha's mad he left her alone and thancred's mad HE left her alone) they don't dislike each other by the end of ARR but they really can't breach this first, horrific impression.

and even in hw patches they don't really talk TO each other. they sense each other's deepening jadedness and mourning, and they speak up in each other's defense several times, but they still can't really FACE each other. but they see themselves in each other, and they both wish someone would understand how much pain they're in. so l'aiha speaks up in thancred's defense with emmanellain, and they both do so in a few other scenes as well throughout hw patches and stb.

but the ironic thing about shb is they're NOT relating to each other this time, and it causes them to engage for the first time in 4 (or 9 in thancred's case) years, but it's not friendly. l'aiha is furious about how thancred handles ryne, and thancred is furious about how l'aiha handles emet-selch. their animosity grows worse and worse until, finally...

they both realize how fucking wrong they were. thancred about ryne, l'aiha about emet-selch. and neither of them take any satisfaction out of the other's moment of revelation. nobody's happy. they expected even a LITTLE relief, and it's there, but it's dull compared to just how overwhelmingly SAD they are for each other.

and i think that's when they both figure out they've ALWAYS been sad for each other. l'aiha was mad about ryne in part because thancred was denying himself healing. thancred was mad about emet-selch because he was scared he'd hurt l'aiha. even after ARR, when they're not upset about ifrit anymore but keep their distance from one another, it's out of concern FOR EACH OTHER.

thancred believes l'aiha hates him because he left her with ifrit. l'aiha believes she's responsible for the bad mental state that led thancred to being possessed by lahabrea. they think they're only capable of hurting each other, and stay away because they don't WANT to do that.

and after shb, after ryne and emet-selch, they can't stand to watch the other still, still hurting after all this time. they're not friends, exactly, but they remind me of like... two people who found each other in rehab. their relationship is intrinsically built up with a desire to see the other overcome their tragedies and heal; they have seen each other's souls in a way you only really do when you've both crawled out of hell together. they can do the periodic friendly banter throughout endwalker. they scold the SHIT out of each other about their martyrdom in ultima thule (thancred deleting himself, l'aiha sending the scions away from the endsinger). it's still kind of hostile when even just a little stress sparks, but they know now it comes from a place of wanting the other to MAKE IT. to LIVE.

and i'm just. feelings about them. they're not friends but they're deeply important to each other. and maybe, slowly, in seeing how angry they get when the other undermines themselves, MAYBE one day they'll realize they can stop doing it to themselves. they can stop making it worse in this delusional hope that it will save someone else. they can realize they're being, for each other, what they need themselves. ough. they're like soldiers who met in war and they're home now and what they have is utterly untranslatable into words. it's unspeakable. it's love and anger and kinship and hatred and they will never untangle their souls from one another no matter how good or bad it gets. they're fused like metals in a forge.

[fatherentropy]

wait i gotta know now (unless you posted about it and i didnt see) how does Yorick feel about Laha and co now that the raid story is over?

I haven't said SHIT because spoilers and we're not two weeks out of patch 6.4's release yet

Still processing a bit and I really don't want to say TOO much because there's stuff I wanna draw instead of ramble about (idk why I hate myself but here we are) but more or less he's just got a better understanding of Lahabrea from ARR-HW which simultaneously put him at more at peace with the end of whatever the hell they had going on at that time (antagonistic unintentional feelings where they just argued while no one else was looking???) and dropped him into Grieving Hell 2.0 Electric Boogaloo.

Erich is??? He kinda went out on his own terms which is nice but it also feels a little sad since he.. y'know. Feels like a story clipped short but there's nothing he can do about that so he's trying not to think about it.

Elidibus is... technically alive for him because of another WoL in his party. Not his business. You do you funny little man. (I suppose technically they could actually like talk about those events but Yorick doesn't like dealing with shit with other people and it'd probably send him fleeing to another room until he's left alone tbqh.)

[wildstar25]

How does Arsay feel about Lahabrea and Elidibus? Did Pandemonium change her opinion significantly about either of them?

[ pandaemonium normal raid series / endwalkwer 6.4 spoilers ]

Arsay does not like Mr. Bread. Like at all. She gets what he’s about; but unlike Emet who falls more into “people do crazy things for love” and “thousands of years of depression will do that to you” territory, Lahabrea is the “oh yeah I would do all that evil shit actually. Wouldn’t even be that hard of a switch tbh” type. It pisses Arsay tbh! She’s someone who tries to find the best in anyone but Laha makes it sooooooo hard for her.

She’s also got like parent baggage, and was friends with her good buddy Erich before meeting Bread in pandae so him being a shitty dad just ruined every chance for himself. Also, she thinks splitting himself in two to not deal with his trauma was maybe a poor choice even if he had good intentions behind it (Arsay voice: just bottle up your feelings like the rest us, dumbass 🙄)

( also I think it’s funny that both Lethe and Arsay have beef with him for different reasons. Lethe's beef is absolutely more petty than Arsay's but still! )

Okay now for my sweet baby boy my soft child my beautiful cloud puff Themis…

She never really wanted to fight Elidibus, even when he was parading around in her dead friends body (though that was a sore spot for her)…. Okay maybe she wanted to rip his head off when he kidnapped y’shtola but that was a #PanickedGirlfriendMomentTM and Arsay did still try her best to talk to him during that bit!!! She felt sad for him for sure when she learned about his sacrifice and the state he was currently in (no memories, primal, etc.) , but he had caused so much bullshit and hurt a lot of people as an ascian that she was honestly kind of relieved to finish him off once and for all. When she met Themis, she recognized his voice right away. it was far too distinct! She would have be on the edge had his last action for her (by her account at least) been a helpful one. She could also recognize that this was a much softer, kinder incarnation of the phantom she helped seal in syrcus tower all those moons ago. Hoping this would be a fresh start, like it was with hades, she made no mention of future events. The two became friends of course! but that made it all the worse for her when she walked away from pandaemonium for the last time. it hit her like a brick in that moment, she was to be forgotten by him, he was to become the heart of zodiark, they would become enemies, and fight to the death. It pained her little kitty heart!! and because of endwalker character arc growth she actually had to go through the those emotions and not just pretend like they dont exist!!! She definitely kicked a few rocks around in Elpis and muttered some vulgarities towards stable time loops. After composing herself she of course went back to the Aitiascope. The conversation with Themis there doing a lot to relieve the emotional turmoil she was now holding on to. They could still be friends, even after trying to kill each other that one time :') Arsay is really happy about that!! She hopes in the next life they get to be friends again!

[ezribex]

FFXIV Write Day 6 (Makeup day)

Golden bricks pave the roadway leading up to the castle. I hear strange music, slow like a dirge but not mournful as such. The air is cool on my face but there’s no breeze. “Do you think they have animals?” my companion asks. The hood of his robe falls back as he scans the skies. Soft white hair and robes to match, his youthful countenance frozen in time by the weight of saving the world. 

“Does it matter?” I reply. Despite my words, I look up as well, and see only server towers. It’s a playground for the dead, halcyon days of a ravaged kingdom recreated and bathed in a sweet golden light. It disgusts me. Then again, everything these so-called “people” do does. 

“I suppose not.” My companion replaces his hood and continues our walk. I follow, wondering where we are going. It’s been thousands of years, Lahabrea was only slowing us down, the rejoining of First is nigh. Elidibus, though, he fades a little more every day. I know I can count on him to perform his duties, but on good days like this one, around me he’s absent and dreamy. On bad days, he weeps, he feels the pain of a mortal named Unukalhai as his own, he screams at me to recall our lost world, his lost life. Did I have family, Emet-Selch? Did I have friends? I’m ashamed to say that I don’t know. The Traitor was his mentor in our Paradise, not me. 

The music grows louder as we walk. Rounding the corner, we come upon a strange and sad parade. A child-shaped shade approaches us. “Are you here to see the show?” I scoff and look away, distancing myself from the exchange. Elidibus, on the other hand, stops. He crouches down to the shade’s eye level, removes his mask and hood. I hear him say, with all sincerity, “yes.” 

[toadeyes-miqote]

Without Thancred, Hylnyan's story diverges Post Prae. It would become FFXIV - Hylnyan is just another adventurer or Arenvald- warrior of light (we lost that catgirl as a protag)

Interestingly most of Hylnyan and Thancred relationship were built post-Prae. She didn't know it was Lahabrea even though she had been bothering LahaBread at times.

Partly it was Thancred trying to atone for himself that made their relationship what it was (Thank you Lahabrea-Sensei!). Partly because Thancred grows alongside / parallels / mirrors Hylnyan at times

Without Thancred, Hylnyan would be more distant since he was the more emphatic one/social butterfly when compared to the other main Scions (Tataru the other Scion glue can only do so much by herself. Sad Penelo noise). There would be no one pulling the B-team in (Hoary vs WoL went from small training test to big fun show for Doman kids and others too)

Recruiter Yda was dealing with her own issues and her bond with Hylnyan wasn't that strong. There was the feeling that something was off about her (dual personality? on-off moods?).

Hylnyan is likely hanging with Hoary and Coultenet and having a friendly Archer based rivalry with Aenor (double date with Hoary and Coultenet). Memory is a bit fuzzy here when Aenor joined. Because I remember Yda hanging around them a lot. But yeah mainly interest is in Coultenet,

The four of them(if Aenor here) would have form their own Light Party and leave Mor Dhona for adventures and not be around Alphinaud or Minfilia much. And it becomes FFXIV - Party of Light story. They might become the guest team that pops by now and then.

Hylnyan would probably less WoL and more adventurer and never made it into Heavesward because Bloody Banquet might have taken another form at another time.

Arenvald might have taken over the Meteor protag spot, whether he survives Lady Iceheart (I had wanted her to be Hylnyan's senpai and teach her how to be a Dominant) and Bloody Banquet is his story.

A good chunk of MSQ would not be relevant to her. Side quests as random adventurer maybe. She goes back to being the random artisan-ranger without the WoL weight hanging on her.

#FFXIV #WOLpromptAday

March 2, 2025


Thancred Waters was NEVER rescued from the Praetoriam. He dies leaving Lahabrea as a wandering soul.

How does your story change without him? Does he have a significant enough impact on your WOL to alter their story? What if he wasn’t there during the Dragonsong War? Absent from boosting Urianger’s confidence, To assist the Shinobi, To scout in Bozja and meet Lente's Tears, Never there to guide Ryne. If he was never there to fight in Ultima Thule, or assist Koana?

What if Lahabrea won?

[rinnysmuses]

“So...That’s it, huh? Lahabrea has combined his soul once more with the part he tore away. He is...Whole again, so to speak. Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus will be able to notice at once, I suppose. It seems everything with Pandaemonium tied up nicely, yes?”

“....Yeah,” Ashe  murmured, staring at her shoes. 

Rhea frowned, crossing her arms as they stood in her garden. Ashe had dropped by for a visit to discuss what had transpired lately. And while Ashe had been...Sparse on the details, Rhea couldn’t help notice how sad Ashe was. 

A departure from the spunky girl she was accustomed to. 

“...I’m glad you’re a good mom, Rhea.”

“!?”

Where did that come from? Looking back at her boyfriend and daughter, Rhea watched the two of them interact. She didn’t think she was a good mother at all. She was just passable. She still didn’t know why Ariadne adored her and on her worst days, she could barely move from the bed. 

Opening her mouth to voice just that, Rhea closed it as she watched Ashe cover her face and began to sob softly. Watching the woman fall to her knees, Rhea blinked. 

...Oh. 

She didn’t need to be Persephone to know there must have been so much tied up into what Ashe was feeling, right now. She must have gone through so much in such a short of amount of time. 

Getting on her knees, she gently wrapped Ashe into a hug and pulled her close. Bringing up a hand to card it through her hair, Rhea sighed sadly. 

“It’s okay, Ashe. Whatever happened, it’s over now. It’s okay...”

[noxtivagus]

pandaemonium is fucking crazy /pos

[astrxealis]

i will never be over shb/enw oh my god