#luna nox fleuret

[happy-orc]

My page art for the @ffxvwanderlustzine. I got to draw some floating islands in Tennebrae which came with a compulsory Lunafreya. And a secret Ardyn, because I am me and I cannot help myself.

[pandanscafanfiction]

Oh hey it's Noct's birthday! Wow... Anyways, here's a GMV I made forever ago. Surprisingly it's my most popular one by FAR (which I seriously never expected like wtf) but why not bust it out for old time's sake?

Also there's this GMV too, which is my personal fav

[saqqarasdissent]

I would be too Luna. Seriously she puts up with so much shit and I love her for it 💗

My thoughts, during this scene.

[haverdoodles]

blessed reunion

— (noctis & luna)

.

every time i think about what could've been i cry

[flowers-of-tenebrae]

Some platonic ffxv headcanons:

Luna's favourite books growing up were crime and supernatural fiction. She liked learning about regional folktales, myths and superstitions too.

Meanwhile, Ravus as a kid preferred the historical and fantasy adventure tales. Y'know of knights, heroes and chosen ones.

Ravus taught Luna how to drive during one of his rare breaks from imperial military training. (You could say it was something of a crash course)

Noctis, if given the opportunity and he had no pressing responsibilities, would 100% rearrange his sleep schedule to catch a rare fish.

Ravus definitely jumped down from the top of the stairs at Fenestala Manor as a kid, but he'd never admit to it.

Luna's more likely to play as a character of a different gender in a MMO/RPG than Noctis. She'd relish the chance to be someone else for a change while Noctis, especially when he's younger, feels more comfortable playing a character close to home.

Older Noctis would totally be down to play as a GIRL (guy in real life)

Somehow, Ravus is the one with the most money in ANY of the games they play. (Don't ask him about his methods)

Bonus:

Ignis looks the best playing pool (out of the four). He's probably been hit on while playing.

Gladio is the first to buy the latest karaoke game. (He claims it's for Iris but it's not)

Prompto owns more rare trading cards than Noct because that's one aspect of life where his luck shines. He's lucky when it comes to gacha, prize competitions, claw machines - you name it.

(Noctis has average rng/gacha luck btw)

Gladio has the highest number of bowling strikes, not that anyone is keeping count.

They all play that squid-octopus splat game together. It's PVP time baby.

No one wants to play mahjong. They watch a movie instead. (Well, Ignis would play but only with other serious players. Wait, that's Ravus. Ignis joins Biggs, Wedge and Ravus' mahjong sessions)

Overcooked teams: Gladio/Noctis vs. Ignis/Prompto

[xiema]

Inktober day 3: Fish

Noctluna/Lunafreya x Noctis

Noctis is proud of his girlfriend for her first catch.

[x66r9u]

Lady Lunafreya

[snacobie]

Luna….

[grandwitchbird]

There’s always been a lot of discussion around the way Ardyn’s tragedy is reflected in the chocobros.

But what always sticks out to me is that we only start to understand him after he’s killed his biggest reflection: Luna. We actually see the moment his mask cracks in the scene at the altar, because Luna is very much the most direct parallel to Ardyn. She’s a healer running on blind faith in a doomed world. She’s self-sacrificing and brave and devoted like Ardyn was. She’s truly blind to the plans of the gods she serves, like Ardyn was. And, most cruelly, she wears the face of the woman he loved, the woman whose betrayal* has been used to turn him into the monster we meet in the main story.

This gets underscored in the novellas when we finally get Luna’s perspective. The blindfold of her faith is removed. She’s cursed exactly like Ardyn. But she’s not safely removed from every source of help the way Ardyn was. The gods made a critical mistake. So she immediately sets out to use everything she can to fight the gods. She’s not broken like Ardyn because she’s not alone in this world. She even asks Ardyn himself for help. And, critically, he helps this cursed and less faithful but still-devoted and brave Luna.

This is why we get that uncharacteristic sincere brutality in the scene with Luna. Killing her is meaningless on its own: she’s a dead woman walking. That was for Noctis. But when she reaches out to him as his past self, so full of faith and devotion and grace, he has to reject her. He’s a monster and the world is damned, and she’s quoting the dogma that damned him personally. She hit home with everything he wants and grieves: his humanity, his faith, his sense of the world before his devotion was rewarded with betrayal. So he hits back. And it’s perhaps the most human thing he does in the game. Because there’s a part of him that wanted to take her hand.

* she was his betrayer and proof of his brother’s betrayal and was betrayed herself for her trust: Aera like Luna is an incredible narrative hinge. She’s the absolute encapsulation of the gods’ twisted justice.

[evieeion]

Luna

[prynacle]

04.09.2024 || Happy Birthday Luna!

Birthday art by Brotherhood character designer Shinichi Kurita.

[x]

[rose-madder-gaze]

You have learned the beginning; Go from mine to the other.

Be together; eat, dance, despair, Sleep, be threatened, endure. You will know the way of that.

[fire-of-the-sun]

Noctis & Luna: Two Halves of a Whole

As the destined King of Light and Oracle form two halves of a whole divinely linked and fated to save the world, Noctis and Luna share a bond like none they've ever known. Though their individual callings are deeply intertwined regardless of their personal feelings, the genuine bond they cultivate transcends their pre-determined duties and encompasses a relationship that I believe to be a Yin and Yang dynamic - the definition of which can be described as two opposing, but complementary forces that are inextricably linked and balance each other to form a whole: Male and Female. Dark and Light. Sun and Moon. Night and Day. Black and White, etc. It's this element of their relationship that I'd like to explore here, as it seems clear to me that they were at least partially inspired by and designed to reflect this concept.

SYMBOLISM

Of course, the most obvious exemplification of this idea is found visually in their character's physical adherence to all black and all white clothing, a sartorial choice that is determined by their respective homelands of Tenebrae, which means "Darkness" in Latin, and Lucis which means "Light" - names clearly selected to further push this concept. Delving deeper into language, we know Noctis' name translates to "Light in the Night Sky" in Latin, but what is the singular Light in the night sky? The Moon, aka Luna. Similarly, Luna's middle name is Nox which, in Latin, also means "Night" - a direct reference back to Noctis. They literally share a piece of each other in the other's name, an exchange which is another notable aspect of the Yin and Yang dynamic that features the sharing of one within the other (the two dots in the larger circle).

I believe this concept is also reflected in Umbra and Pryna, Luna's dogs. Pryna is a white female dog (with black markings) that is obviously meant to reflect Luna and dies with her and Umbra, a black male dog (with white markings), who survives to continue to help Noctis. These magical dogs serve to bridge the divide between them and act as their only means to facilitate communication through the passing of a notebook, which I believe is also meant to reflect this element of exchange. Though it may have been more convenient for them and the audience to try to find some way to speak directly to each other over some device, it wouldn't serve the same purpose, and it would lessen the impact of them meeting in person to a degree. Their inability to touch, see or hear from each other beyond the written word only increases the longing that beats at the heart of their star-crossed lover's dynamic.

Another exchange is featured in the transferring of the Ring of the Lucii - the embodiment of Noctis' duty - as well as the Trident of the Oracle, the symbol of Luna's own power and a piece of herself that literally becomes part of him to aid his mission even after she's gone. Beyond this, we also see Noctis hold onto one of Luna's glowing flower petals after her image vanishes as it's light and her essence seems to meld into him. As the Ring and Trident are tools to help him succeed in his calling, the petal is personal and both gifts represent her roles to him: mentor as well as lover and acts as another reference to the "light within the dark" element of Yin and Yang.

Though Luna is obviously meant to represent the Moon (it's literally the meaning of her name), Noctis doesn't feel like an obvious reference to the Sun. Though his fate is linked to bringing back the Light, which is most notably displayed in the return of the Sun, I'd argue he and Luna are both the Moon - both the Light in the Night sky that combats the Darkness that must die to bring back the Sun. Saving the world can literally only be achieved through their union, just as Gentiana proposed:

"It is heartening to see the future King and the Oracle enjoy such familiarity. The fate of our world may depend on it." - Gentiana

The elements of Light and Darkness that permeate the story leads to some interesting symbolism. Light is a term used often and holds multiple meanings as, beyond physical Light, it also means Hope and, for Noctis and the world, Luna is the embodiment of that Hope. When she's gone, the world literally grows darker without such a beacon of Light to help keep it at bay. That task now belongs fully to Noctis and the passing of the torch is exemplified in her exchange with the Ring and the Trident.

"[...] For slowly but surely, the Light fades from our world. And as it does, the shadows loom ever longer until all succumbs to the Darkness. Darkness that evokes terror, hatred, and sorrow in the hearts of men. [...] Yet I beg you, do not surrender to Despair. Have faith, for our gods watch over us. By their blessings, by the Stars that light the heavens above, our world will be delivered from the perils of the Dark. [...] But first, I offer my solemn vow, on my honor as Oracle, I will not rest until the Darkness is banished from our world and the Light is restored." - Luna

And, just as Darkness is the opposite of Light, so Despair is the opposite of Hope and it's in this struggle that the story revolves and defines the crux of Noctis' internal conflict. Among other things, Noctis' journey is finding the ability to move on from the Despair of his losses and attaining and embodying Hope like Luna before him so he can be that for the world. It's Ardyn that tries to keep him trapped in Darkness and Despair by reminding him of his guilt and fears and Luna that tries to pull him into the Light by encouraging him and reminding him of his strength and capability. In the end, through the help of his loved ones, Noctis embraces Hope and becomes the true King of Light and saves the world by physically conquering Darkness and his own Despair. This growth is beautifully displayed in many moments, but notably in Noctis' final speech to the Glaives that mimics Luna's words:

"Even as the Darkness overcame our world, we kept the Light alive in our hearts. We've all lost friends and loved ones along the way, but the one thing we never lost was Hope. I ask you to stand by me and fight at my side for the Light and for the future of our world!" - Noctis

BALANCE

"Noct and Luna are a great match for each other personality-wise. They are both patient, and earnest, and capable of dealing with great sorrow. They would be each other’s shield, and their love for each other would only grow with time." - Ray Chase (Voice of Noctis)

Noctis and Luna were clearly intended to reflect and contrast in interesting ways that enhance the story and add depth to their individual characters. Though I won't begin to pretend to know all the deeper meanings to be mined in the Omen trailer, I was struck by the way Noctis and Luna are literally reflected throughout most of it with them depicted as mimicking each other's movements or seeing each other's reflections as their own, almost as if they're one person. I think this speaks to the creator's desire to showcase them in this way and lends further credence to the Yin and Yang aspect of their dynamic, in my opinion.

Let's break it down: Luna was obviously designed to be a few years older than Noctis to enhance her larger narrative function as a mentor figure. Given the duties she had to embrace at a young age and the hardships she's suffered, she is more mature, refined and accepting of her calling. Noctis, by contrast, lacks in these areas at the beginning of the story - hence the journey he's on to follow in her footsteps both literally and figuratively and reach her at that level using her guidance, support and example to become the man and the King he's meant to be.

These disparities are intentional. A deliberate choice to enhance their Yin and Yang dynamic and encourage Noctis' much needed growth but, despite their surface level differences, they are and could clearly be very compatible. They have always gotten along very well, showcase a deep level of respect and affection for each other, have grown up together through their consistent communication and truly know and love each other despite said differences and not even seeing each other in person (you don't eagerly and consistently write to someone for 12 years and still not know anything about each other). Getting to interact in person would only further enhance an already strong foundation, not hinder it and their minimal differences would help balance and enhance each other. And yes, they'd have amazing chemistry, let's be real.

For example, it's easy to determine that Luna would be a calm and encouraging presence that Noctis desperately needs - a literal beacon of Light in his life. He harbors a great deal of anxiety about his duties, calling and even his wedding with her and just being around her and assured by her warm smile and comforting words would have done wonders to relax and assuage his worries. Her presence would also help to bring out more maturity in Noctis and naturally coax the gentleman in him to the surface as he tries to be the man and husband she deserves. When Noctis speaks to or about Luna, he generally shows a softer, more caring side of himself that contrasts the 'rougher', more guarded quality he can display around others at times. He could finally drop the nonchalant façade he uses as a shield and just be himself as there is no reason to hide his true self around Luna, who already knows him so well and will not judge or mock him.

Unlike Noctis, Luna doesn't have the luxury of friends her age she can be herself with. Reuniting with him would no doubt encourage her to drop her guard as well and remind her of their time together when she was her younger, more carefree self and the person she wants to be: a normal woman who finally has someone by her side who sees the real her beyond being the Oracle. She's not just Lady Lunafreya, she's also Luna, a girl who wants a life outside of duty with the man she loves and he's the only person who sees her that way. Luna longs for her other half - an equal at her side rather than someone merely to lead.

"I have little to offer a King other than the voice afforded the Oracle. Nevertheless, and I'm afraid he might find this foolish, but to be together with Noctis again - even if only for a short while - it would mean the world to me. I do not seek to guide him, merely to stand beside him." - Luna

Like Yin and Yang, they complement and balance each other to grow and become the best and truest version of themselves. Luna encourages Noctis to mature and relax and Noctis would allow her to be less refined and remind her of the woman she is beneath the titles and duties that have dominated her life. They'd give each other exactly what the other needs and provide a special bond they can't find with anyone else. Though Noctis' friends help him along his journey, the burden of his fate is a weight only Luna understands. They are on this path together and no one else can truly know what that feels like save for the other.

This is another reason why their relationship is so important, as it allows us to flesh out their characters more and add depth by highlighting a facet of their personalities that we wouldn't otherwise see. Having romantic rather than platonic feelings for each other also heightens every aspect of the story: the tragedy of their circumstances, the longing to be together and the overall satisfaction at the end when they can finally be together again.

FOREVER BOUND

Since the day they met, Noctis and Luna became a huge part of each other's lives and formed a bond both sought to hold onto. Felt a deep connection to their spiritual counterpart and amiss in each other's absence as if unconsciously seeking their other half. When Luna dies, Noctis loses a part of himself, and the blow is understandably devastating. They came so close to being together and were torn apart once again, their previous separation taking a new and even more tragic form. But though Luna is far, she is not gone as, according to Ravus, even in death her spirit remains tethered to the world, unable to truly pass on until Noctis' mission is complete - further proof as to how connected their fated roles are. However, it's their love for each other, not their callings that truly tether them and, just as before, they are determined to still be together someday no matter what.

"Luna, you and I will be together again someday, I promise." - Noctis

The element of yearning that permeates their relationship is maintained now through the repeated motif of Noctis reaching for her, both still desperate for connection. Beyond heightening the inherent tragedy that lies at the heart of their star-crossed lovers dynamic, I believe these near misses are not meant to be cruel, but to further prove that, as much as Noctis wants to, he has not really "reached" Luna yet. He still has a lot of growth to achieve before he can truly become her equal and they can become one. If Luna represents essentially all that he needs to become, then reuniting and becoming one with her translates to him finally achieving that as well, which is why it's withheld until he's completed his arc. It also, obviously, makes them finally being able to touch in the end even more satisfying.

MARRIAGE

As a huge element of this story is about Noctis and Luna uniting in more ways than one, what better way to show that than through marriage? As marriage can be defined as two individuals joining in a permanent covenant that unites them into one flesh, so the marriage between Noctis and Luna was not only an effective catalyst to the story, but also a brilliant way to continue to reflect the idea of them becoming whole again through each other which serves a huge narrative, thematic and symbolic function. This story is not only about Noctis literally following in Luna's footsteps, seeking her to not only be reunited with her, but also united in marriage - the blending of Yin and Yang. Two halves of a whole seeking and yearning for each other finally becoming one which is only achieved in the end after Noctis has completed his arc and truly becomes her equal.

Though they may not have physically married in life, their spiritual marriage in the afterlife further proves not only how much they love and want to be together, but also symbolizes that they are truly and fully bonded now. Even the transformed logo at the end of the game serves to show this. Where once Luna was alone, now Noctis finally joins her at last. Finally equal. Finally whole. Finally one.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, please reblog and/or like and check out my #ffmeta and #ffedit tag for more!

[bluemoonkh3]

Happy New Year

[to-fangirl-or-not-to-fangirl]

lunoct - flower gleam and glow

[flowers-of-tenebrae]

A year like this passes so strangely Somewhere between sorrow and bliss

Oh, who decides from where up high? I couldn't say "I need more time"

Too much, too much, too much, too much, too much Never enough