#lyna rambles

[lynaferns]

Earlier I was eating soup with my Sun and Moon nightlights. My mother was looking at them and suddenly she laughs and says "hehe, Sun has more butt than Moon :)" and she was right lol.

[flowers-of-tenebrae]

Extremely self-indulgent Lunoct arranged marriage AU:

Where instead of Ardyn's schemes, it's Noctis who proposes a contract marriage as a means of extracting Luna from imperial clutches with the condition they'll definitely divorce after she's free and no longer in danger. (Or until a certain fixed period has passed.)

Luna agrees to the terms (despite being OK with the arrangement) because she doesn't want to keep Noctis trapped in a marriage to someone he doesn't love romantically.

Cue lots of denial, repressed feelings and pining as they spend time together in the lead up to their wedding (and after it), until one of them snaps and apologises for not wanting a divorce because they've fallen for the other.

Some possible titles:

A Fake Marriage with the Beloved Oracle I Proposed a Contract Marriage to Save My Childhood Friend from Captivity, Except I Don't Really Want to Get Divorced I Became Engaged to the Oracle ~But Now I Want to Marry Her For Real~ Temporarily Marrying the Prince of Lucis for My Protection The Wayward Prince's Bride (and Future Ex-Wife)

There'd be a lot of:

"Noctis/Luna deserves to be with someone they love. I can't stand in the way of their future happiness. This marriage is only temporary blah blah blah"

head shaking, eye rolling and "Can you believe these two fools??" from the bros, Regis, other retainers/staff, Carbuncle, all of Lucis

Ravus greatly disapproves

[lynaferns]

You could say Sun has a base to work with while we have to work to make Moon a steadier base. (idk why I'm using art metaphors but I guess that's how I talk now)

But thanks to this problem they have we ended up with a great community (sometimes overwhelming but that's in every fandom) full of creativity and a LOOOONG catalog of AUs and stories from the most simple roommate AU to the most bizarre things like dragons, Gods or eldritch horrors.

That said

I'm using this as an excuse to rant about my interpretation of Moon :)

You see, I think Moon may have a lot of layers

[insert Shrek and onions gif here]

When I see people write him there is mostly a pattern of exterior layer, interior layer and a core. Like you mentioned, he can be cynical and grumpy, innocent and quiet, completely maniacal, all of the above... What if there is way more? What if he's complex and very simple all at the same time?

When a character has layers people like to look into the interior layers more than the exterior ones because it's the least seen part of the character, but in the process they forget that there were supposed to be thick layers over that softer side. People peel off the exterior layers and leave only the soft ones. Layers are supposed to protect and there is an extended variety of types of layers.

I don't think Moon has a thick layer over a softer one. I think he has many layers of similar thickness all working together to protect the small core that no one can reach.

This is something that I'm trying to explore in my AUs, the closest one would technically be the steampunk au but there's not much character exploration in that story so my next one is the biomáquina au (I'm not counting the "human" and elves aus, this is about the robots)

First, there is a layer of madness, a sadistic maniac that enjoys scaring people to death and even hurt them a "little bit" just to add to his evil character. He won't trap you immediately because there's no fun in it, he wants the fun to last as much as it can, he wants to see you fear for your life as long as it can, he wants to chase you, to get close enough, touch you just with the tips of his fingers to make your heart skip a beat of fear that he may catch you at any moment.

He enjoys being the villain but under that layer, there is a more playful one that can also enjoy others having fun, he doesn't care if you are having fun or not tho. Everything is like a game to him and doesn't quite comprehend why you aren't having fun with his game but that doesn't really matter.

I think he enjoys his job too, both as security and naptime attendant. He may have a softer side for good kids but in his own creepy scary (aggressive) way of caring for children.

He has a different way of working, a different way of thinking, a different way of being. He always does what he feels is right to do to him even if others don't understand, even if he himself doesn't understand it feels right so he rolls with it. He doesn't care what anyone would say or think. He only cares about himself and getting his job done.

And under all those layers, there may be one that does care, deep down, he cares about children. He cares about his job and getting the kids to sleep and rest, and making sure other animatronics could get to the recharge station at the end of every hour. And he cares about sharing equal time of being out with his counterpart but doesn't understand why he won't share anymore.

Everything feels so wrong. He feels wrong and right at the same time but he won't share that part of him because it doesn't feel like himself. All those top layers are the ones that feel right, that's the way he is and if others don't like him for the way he is he will make sure they hate him. That is Moon.

TL;DR: Moon is a cat

And some things and explanations I didn't know how to fit in the ramble without breaking the flow

I think he doesn't understand himself and has complicated feelings because of it but ignores it because it's easier and feels better. He's ok not understanding.

There's no way he'll ever be only his nicest side for others, all his sides come together in a pack of 1, take it or leave it.

We don't know how he was in the past but I don't think he ever behaved like the softer Moon we see in the posters and promotional art. Look at Monty, his promotional art seems like a chill dude but he is aggressive (probably because of the virus but idk, I feel it was part of him too, the glamrocks are pretty sentient). Maybe Moon was more calm in the past but the past doesn't matter now, this is the present.

I don't think Sun and Moon hate each other but rather they are mad at each other. Especially Moon since he's been trapped inside/in restricted time for who knows how long.

And in terms of AUs (and I'm talking about my AUs) I don't feel right pealing off all those layers to only leave the good ones at the end. I feel it would suit more finding a way where that buried layer of softness can emerger with the rest of layers. You can't make someone change who they are but you can try to help them be a better version of themselves.

This is all, I think? I don't remember more. I don't even know if this makes sense, I'm better at showing than telling tbh

Be honest! No in betweens ya gotta choose 🔫/silly

[memorys-skyscraper]

about to start ugly crying at this official art from the new ffxiv vinyl set

[starlightcleric]

Rambling about ffxiv shipping late at night:

So I've been playing Summer again, my gay dragoon bunny, as she's my solo alt on a different server than the rest for when I desire to ffxiv but not interact with anyone. But anyway, I've been thinking about her ships. Previously I've shipped her with Lyna, which I still like and should expand on. But due to a number of reasons (different worlds, differing responsibilities, age difference) I don't think it works out long term. So it's a fling for ShB.

I would ship her with Alisaie in a heartbeat if the twins ever age, but, even though Summer is only three years older than her, I am a woman in my thirties and writing underage romance is not something I really want to touch.

So what I've been considering is basically a girl for every expansion. HW: Heustienne; SB: M'naago; ShB: Lyna; EW: ?; DT: Yaana (Black Cat). I did strongly consider Wuk Lamat but, idk, like Karlach, she's my bud that I have no romantic interest in whatsoever.

[remma-demma]

I couldn’t stop thinking about this joke whenever he would cough I’m sorry.

[siris-space]

Valentines Day

Ok I made this scribbly little goofy comic of my WoL + Lyna on Valentines day but was too chicken to post it since I don't usually make ship art but... kinda couldn't resist :,) I think they'd be kinda cute...

[sunsetwaltz]

[Rough Thoughts on Finale - General Spoilers]

FIN at around 110h. (Minus an hour or two spent in photo mode or leaving the game idle lol)

And I'm STILL missing 2 achievements 😩 At least only one of them requires more exploration.

Warning: Mainly negative impressions below.

More than anything, I think I'm relieved the game's finally over for me. Unfortunately I stumbled on a number spoilers on the way (my fault tbh), so things didn't hit as hard as they could've. It's fine; I just wish the music had been more intense and emotionally stirring. The scenes could've really used that extra oomph - the voice acting and visuals alone weren't enough imo. It's a bit sad when the "best" part of the music was the recognisable DAI tracks.

Although the final fight(s) and ending were more definitive than the Inquisition's (base game) finale, I felt kind of...idk ambivalent as I watched the last scenes roll? Like "That's it? Hmm. I see." I couldn't muster the joy or celebratory mood or even bittersweet feelings I'd expected to come with closing a nearly decade-long chapter.

Honestly it felt a little surreal. My whole playthrough had been laced with an undercurrent of (unsurprising) disappointment and "it could've / should've been like this" thoughts, so maybe I should thank my stars the ending didn't bring any more disappointment.

Part of me can't help but remember the emotional reactions I had after finishing DA2, DAI / Trespasser, ME3 or even other games like FFXIV (incl DT). Now those games had elicited strong emotions. They had higher highs and lower emotional lows; any disappointment I had with those games was felt more keenly because the journey had been full of surprises and many joys. Whereas with DA:V, my journey has mainly been like a steady line? There were things I liked in DA:V and everything else was lacklustre tbh. It was missing the emotional rollercoaster and adventure I'd craved from Thedas :/

Don't get me wrong I did enjoy playing DA:V - I wouldn't have continued otherwise. But would I recommend this game at full price? No. I don't regret playing it but I can't in good conscience suggest someone else do so when at its core DA:V is missing the essential "DA" ingredients - compelling nuanced writing, world building and party characters.

DA:V may borrow names from the DA world of Thedas but it doesn't feel like Thedas - these names feel little more than set dressing or props. Like many have expounded before me, by "playing it safe" with the writing the devs stripped away the immersive things players loved about DA. Too many times did DA:V's script feel too superficial, too casually modern and too insincere(?) in regards to the previous games' established worldbuilding. Quantity over quality, new player experience and cinematics over roleplaying seemed like BW / EA's main priorities. Y'know instead of the DA fans who have been waiting ages for this game after being left on a major cliffhanger. Everything elf-related (incl. the veil jumper Rook experience) felt like a "token effort" at best; I can't imagine how much worse it'd be to play as a qunari or LoF.

I could go into the specifics of what I liked vs. disliked and properly discuss the major story beats (or even Act 3 alone), but I'll stop now. Time to head to bed and maybe later I can think about watching the game's other possible endings(?), romances, etc. It'll be interesting to see the other choices - and if Neve still feels like the game's deuteragonist (or the devs' pet favourite) when she's not y'know "chosen".

TL;DR I'm annoyed some of the appearances / transmog are bugged (i.e. locked despite having completed the requisite quest, etc). I hope they actually fix it and add a golden nug feature too 😔

[lovehui]

I miss u caratblr beloveds i hope ure all doing well!!! 🫶🫶🫶

[sunless-not-sinless]

yeah i love tism

trans

inclusionary

sexy

men

[lynaferns]

Isn't it funny how we have separated every single version of Sun and Moon that we have made from each other.

Like, we'll see a dca fanart, recognize the artstyle and the artist and be like "ah this is the bubbly Sun with the mean Moon" and you scroll to the next artists post and oh, the hyperactive Sun, the shy Moon, the nice Sun that's an asshole on the inside, the tsundere Moon, the Sun that's mean to the reader at first but later warms up, the Moon with a lenguaje academic degree, etc etc.

Like, this community applies the 'alternative reality' concept and we respect each other's interpretations or reinterpretations from the games and AUs, and you just can't see that in other fandoms.

[flowers-of-tenebrae]

can tumblr rb the past noctmillion years of ffxv/lunoct content onto my blog? PLSSS orz

If anyone from WAY back when is reading this: I hope you're doing well!

I got hit by a sudden wave of nostalgia so here I am, again. I can't believe FFXV actually got more content after dotf / the cancellation of ep luna (I'm still a bit mad). They may be tiny tidbits but still. I've got so much to catch up on. I want to replay FFXV someday, unlock my remaining trophies and exp it with mods too~

Also I got DotF as an early bday present! I'm excited to finally go on a journey with Luna, even if I would've preferred it in vg form :')

It's sooooo beautiful <3🥹🥹🥰

(I also need a distraction from the countdown to DA:V otherwise I'll go stir-crazy fskld;ajfl;sdaf Planning on making one Rook insp by Crowe cos she deserved better! Crowe the Antivan Crow it's like poetry)

[takethistoyourstardust]

i know the running theory is that zero is the wol’s shard on the 13th but if she isn’t then i’m stealing her and making her a shard of nike instead (aka giselle’s ancient).

[meowww-ffxiv]

#FFXIVWrite2024

Prompt 6 :: Halcyon

.

"Tell me again," Mordred said into the quiet peace of sunset, as light and shadow danced on the wall of the Baldesion Annex's living room. "Of those halcyon days you missed, Raha. When you brought them up in the Crystal Tower, before I faced Elidibus."

G'raha looked up from his book. He glanced across the room at his friend, unable to disguise his concern. Mordred had been in one of his rare "I don't want to get out of bed today" moods since this morning, and was even now nothing more than a pile of blankets on the opposite couch. Yet to ask him what was wrong had felt...

It had felt almost scary. So G'raha and Krile had taken turns keeping the pile of blankets company, like this.

And finally, it had spoken.

G'raha gathered his thoughts for a moment longer, then put his book aside and went to sit on the edge of Mordred's couch.

"The very first time I saw you in the flesh, it was in the Black Shroud," he began, voice melodic, like when he was telling little Lyna a story. "You had dispatched some boars on your own. I had half a mind to draw my bow and assist you, since I did not realize until it was too late that you bore only a staff. Mages and charging beasts are usually a poor mix."

The pile of blankets shifted. The very tip of a black feline ear poked out, flicking back and forth. G'raha chuckled, letting his tail curl around the soft layers behind him.

"Do you ever wonder how you look from afar?" he mused. "A flick of your staff, like the conductor of an orchestra, and icicles burst forth from the earth to drive the boars away. The twist and warp of aether in the air as you wove them into flame and lightning -- ah, I knew at once you were not someone to be trifled with."

G'raha paused here.

After a moment, he asked, "You knew where I was, did you not? With your keen aether senses, you must have."

"You were in a tree," Mordred replied.

"I...do admit to liking high places."

"How you got up there was a mystery to me." Mordred finally pulled the blankets away from his face and squinted vaguely at the ceiling, like he was looking right back into the past, seeing without eyes the interloper in the trees. "Even at the Ixali logging grounds -- How did you even get down, after that?"

G'raha coughed into his fist, embarrassed.

"Were those really the days of old that you missed?" Mordred asked him. "When we weren't talking yet?"

"Hold on. I'm getting there." G'raha's tail thumped on the blankets. Despite himself, however, it was a good few seconds before he could bear to continue: "I'm sure it's patently and pathetically obvious, but I-- you-- Back then, I was as dazzled by your reputation as anyone else.

"When Rammbroes permitted us to explore the Crystal Tower only to tell me I must stay behind, it was like my heart was crushed. I wanted to talk to you, you see. I wondered what it would be like up close, to bear the intensity of your strength and magic. To think that you would grant me your company over something as simple as questions and... and porridge..."

It was hard to keep talking. There was a G'raha Tia, two lifetimes ago, who drank in the attention and friendship the Warrior of Light had given him without a single thought of what it might mean. Mordred Surana who had but one friend, for all that he had many acquaintances. Mordred Surana, who was a stranger by design to his closest associates. Who sought G'raha out over trivialities, who sat and listened for hours as G'raha rambled on and on about Allag's earliest ages.

...Who, to Rammbroes' chagrin, snuck G'raha away to the Black Shroud for a whole week, so they could look at Amdapor's ruins. Just because G'raha had confessed to him that the lack of progress on untangling the Crystal Tower's mysteries at the time was wearing on his nerves.

It was staggering, looking back, how much Mordred had overtly and persistently favored him. If it had been anyone else, if their friendship wasn't colored by the nuances that it was, G'raha would have gone to grounds over embarrassment of his own obliviousness...

Even now he might. Ugh.

"You met me at a bad time in my life," Mordred said now, drawing G'raha out of his own spiral. "It was a weird time, too. I've wiped clean the imperials and protected my home, and everyone was singing my and Theodore's praises to the high heavens. Yet, in that storm of victory-fervor, I couldn't find any relief. My friends were still dead. My life was still marred. I was trying to swallow the truth that no matter how many of the imperials I killed, how many of their children's children I curse, the things of mine that they destroyed can't be restored."

This grief was old. It was a scar. Disfiguring as it was, ugly and jagged as the edges were, when Mordred gave it voice and bared it to G'raha like this, he only sounded weary. The nerves were dead. It was just the scar itself that must be the totality of all it represented -- what was gouged out, and what healing had taken place, and what it left in its wake.

G'raha tucked his hand under the blanket and patted around until he wrapped it around a wiry wrist, Mordred's skin furnace-hot from the cocoon of layers.

"I hope that I was able to ease things for you for awhile," he said quietly. "And I am still sorry -- that I left you behind. It was not until... not until I was awakened by the Ironworks that I knew what that felt like."

"What grief felt like?" Mordred asked him.

G'raha squeezed his wrist in lieu of an answer.

"I wish you needn't have known it," Mordred said. "And then to have to carry on as you did. But, you know -- thank you. That you met me where you did."

[maeljade]

Shiiiiips? :D

okay this is going to be rambling and chaotic cause its all random thoughts scattered in my brain that appeared as I was playing the game. Also spoiler warning for ... I guess the entire game?

Her general approach is ... not monogamous. She is an adventurer, she is out in the world and sometimes she needs to blow of steam in whatever town she currently is.

So, no ships in ARR for my Lizzer. She just arrived in Eorzea, she is out there delving into basements and fighting small fry beasts and her first gods, no time for romance.

COME HEAVENSWARD. And she meets Sidurgu! First fellow Au Ra Xaela she has met since! (And Yugiri pretty much made it clear that she is not interested in romance). And as fellow Dark Knight they are often covered in blood and guts and gore so tenderly cleaning each others scales afterwards! Also you already adopted a daughter together in Rielle! (Which makes 4 adopted daughters if you include the White Mage girlies).

Stormblood ... Zenos is Zenos and she is a Dotharl (even if only adopted). He is entirely correct, she lives for the thrill of the hunt, the spilling of blood and the rush of death. Its a match made in Hell and you know DAMN WELL that she accepted and embraced him.

Also lets talk about her relationship with Sadu. She is her big sister that she idolizes! You know, the usual. You try to murder her in grief over your entire clan dying and or disappearing, she kicks your ass and when someone tries to finish you of is so impressed by her fearlessness in the face of death that you get adopted into her tribe. And they both very much enjoyed the chance to face off in battle during the Naadam and for my lizzer to show how much she has grown stronger on her travels!

Shadowbringers: She does another bad choice and goes for Emet-Selch. We all know the tension that is already there between them but she throws it out the window at the lift in Kholusia. With full trust and belief in Dotharl culture she knows about reincarnation. So when Emet does his whole speech only to end it with a "not that you would remember it" she confronts him and tells him that she is aware of the fact that he knew her in a previous life. Oh girlie, if you knew how right you are with that one. Anyways that sure spiced up the encounter on Mt. Gulg and the final showdown.

She also tried some flirting with Lyna but sadly that did not go anywhere for her and some joking with Cerigg since its another adopted kid with a "partner", this time its a son!

Endwalker: Well Zenos is back ... kinda so that relationship is back on the table. Also Emet-Selch in the past, this time with the knowledge of Azem and some very awkward first interactions. Also Erenville is here and he is very very pretty and Hopefully something may come out of that in Dawntrail, who knows!

[snow-system-wol]

(Alisaie did indeed hit the mark)

That'll ever be the point of disconnect. Zenos tries to cast away his identity as being relevant before they fought here last time, Zeno vs "S'ria", no affiliations and no titles... and if such a thing were possible, maybe things would have been different. Fray is used to inspiring some amount of discomfort or revulsion when they take S'ria's place in battle -- to be embraced for such a trait would surely affect them.

...From anyone aside from the crown prince of Garlemald and current occupier of Ala Mhigo/Gyr Abania, that is. Fray did not want to be considered similar to him in the slightest.

Fray sought only for Zenos to leave them alone and for S'ria's birthplace to suffer no more Garlean intrusion. It was never anything more for them.

(end Zenos rambles, but the rest of the post got long)

Ominous!

I think we had mentioned Lyna/sort of the Crystarium as a whole gifting S'ria armor during his time passing through the First recently?

(Crystarium Scouting Coat)

Preparing for Ultima Thule is the time that he finally puts it on. It's the closest to anything ACTUALLY PROTECTIVE he's worn basically all game. It also feels nice to be carrying the collective well-wishes of so many Crystarium craftspeople with him.

It would have been nice for S'ria to lie down when we logged off but I See

Funniest minion to sight right now