#m'iquote

[pg--animation]

My new edgelord retainer

[noobineorzea-blog]

Sometimes the people you come across in the DF have a special style^^

[a-soul-full-of-stars]

Match as a Recruitable NPC

Name: Match Munroe Alternate Name or Alias?: None Race & Job: Seeker of the Sun M'Iquote, Guardian (a fusion of Paladin and White Mage, a tank with slightly more potent healing utility) Nickname: Matchstick, on account of being small and with a fiery temper that can flare up out of nowhere then burn out just as quick as it arrived. Default Tarot Card: Seven of Cups

Do they have the Echo? If so, how did they discover it?: Yes. Match's Echo manifests as a supernatural almost-invulnerability tied to his own sense of self-belief; if Match truly believes he can survive something, he will, largely unscathed. It first manifested during his time as a Bloodsands Gladiator, where his opponents' blows never seemed to find their mark or, when they did, would leave little more than bruises.

How/where does the WoL meet them?: The WoL's first meeting with Match is dependent on their starting city.

If the WoL begins in Limsa Lominsa, they encounter Match running from the Yellowjackets after having committed a petty theft. The WoL has the option of sending the Yellowjackets in another direction or turning him in, but taking the second option will lock recruitment until much later and Match will dislike the WoL. If the WoL helps Match evade capture, he is available for Duty Support as a Rogue for The Satasha Seagrot.

If the WoL begins in Ul'Dah, they encounter Match with Thancred in Sapphire Avenue, where the pair dare the WoL to help them out with a Robin Hood-esque petty heist to steal food for the occupants of Pearl Alley. Thancred uses this moment to assess the WoL for membership of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. If the WoL helps the pair out, Match becomes available for Duty Support as a Gladiator for Copperbell Mines.

If the WoL begins in Gridania, Match is introduced as a nervous Conjuror, doing everything to hide his identity from those around him. If the WoL is friendly to Match, he reveals that he is on the run from a crime committed in Limsa Lominsa and that authorities are closing in. The young Conjuror is considering turning himself in and asks the WoL for advice. The WoL can either recommend running or agreeing that Match should turn himself in. Regardless of option, Match decides to turn himself in and is seen being led to an airship in chains by Yellowjackets and Maelstrom officers shortly after.

How are they recruited into the Scions?: After the WoL joins the Scions, Thancred has a side quest in which he reveals that he is attempting to negotiate for the release of Match from Limsa Lominsa into Scion custody and requests the WoL's assistance in pulling it off. If the WoL met Thancred and Match in Ul'Dah, Thancred makes reference to their previous misadventure together, apologizing for the messes that Match seems to manage to drag them both into. It is implied that there has been some kind of romantic connection between the pair since WoL saw them both last.

During the quest, the WoL and Thancred travel to Limsa Lominsa and discover that Match's charges have been trumped up by Captain Milala, the investigating officer, from simply a pickpocketting case all the way to resisting arrest, assaulting an officer and attempted murder, with no evidence to support it. Thancred and the WoL must find enough evidence that the Yellowjackets are lying to protect their reputation that Merlwyb has no choice but to release Match in order to prevent a scandal.

Romanceable?: Yes. Poly-romanceable; can be romanced without locking off other romance options. If the WoL pursues multiple romances, Match can be seen flirting with their other romantic interests.

Where they are in the open world:

During ARR, once recruited Match can be found in the Waking Sands with Arenvald.

From HW onwards, Match can be found in Revenant's Toll leaning on a balustrade looking out over the market place.

Default saying: (When you want to talk to them in the open world, how do they respond?)

In the Waking Sands: "I guess this beats prison... Thanks for getting me out of there."

In Revenant's Toll: "If you ever need someone to take a hit for you, you know where to find me!"

What do they typically do off-screen?: Match is a restless soul and wanderer at heart, so whenever not involved in the ongoing adventures of the WoL he travels almost-constantly. He avoids teleportation, preferring the process of getting from Point A to Point B the slow way; airships, boats, or riding his own mounts. He'll normally stay at his destination for a few weeks at the absolute maximum then be off again.

Things they Generally Approve of:

Showing kindness to the poor and downtrodden of the world

Showing kindness to kids

Generous portions during meals

Reckless ideas

If the WoL stands up to authority or doesn't back down from a challenge

Things they Generally Disapprove of:

Cowardice or cruelty

Showing deference to guards or legal authorities

Someone being a stick-in-the-mud

Are they in a Grand Company? Which one?: Match's status as a member of a Grand Company is dependent on the actions of the WoL.

If Match is in the party when the WoL defeats Ifrit, Raubahn Aldynn dispatches a representative of the Immortal Flames bearing word that in recognition of Match's service to Thanalan/Ul'Dah and his past performance in the Bloodsands, the Flame Commander is prepared to offer Match a commission in the Immortal Flames to help him "stay out of trouble." Match will once again ask the WoL for advice as to whether or not to take Raubahn up on his offer.

Regardless of the WoL's advice, after the events immediately preceding HW it is revealed that Match and some other loyal Scions were smuggled out of Ul'Dah by members of the Immortal Flames still loyal to Raubahn.

Friends:

Within the Scions: Thancred, Arenvald, Hoary Boulder, G'Raha Tia

Outside the Scions: Momodi, Adelberta, Jenlyns, Hilda, Stephanivien, Yugiri

Small Side Mission(s): As long as he is recruited, Match has a sidequest for the WoL in each expansion of FFXIV, with the exception of SHB.

ARR: Match is concerned about Thancred, who has been acting strange and distant with the Scions for a few weeks. Match and Thancred aren't talking so he asks that the WoL follow Thancred and see if they can tell what's wrong. Thancred does appear erratic (due to Ascian influence) but if confronted will become defensive and tell the WoL to tell Match that if he wants to talk he should come speak to him himself. Match is grateful for the help but seems reluctant to actually talk to Thancred directly. If the WoL criticizes Match's reluctance, he becomes defensive and the WoL will lose a lot of approval from Match.

HW: Match sends word to the WoL that he was smuggled out of Ul'Dah and that he is now trying to track down other Scion survivors who may be hiding out in Thanalan. This small questline comprises of a series of small adventures around Thanalan with Match fighting agents of the Syndicate, obtaining clues that hint that Yda and Papalymo are hiding out somewhere near Little Ala Mhigo.

StB: (If Match has not been pursued romantically) Match contacts the WoL and asks for help with his attempts to woo Yugiri Mistwalker. Throughout the MSQ of Stormblood, the WoL must act as a go-between, taking love-notes and messages between Match and Yugiri, as well as counseling both as to whether or not the pair should pursue the romance. Should everything go well, the WoL must help Match obtain a suitable outfit for he and Yugiri's first date.

EW: (Maximum approval required) Match asks the WoL to meet him in Limsa Lominsa. He reveals that he has received word that an old friend has been imprisoned by the Yellowjackets and is asking to see him. This "old friend" is revealed to be Match's adoptive father Hargrave Munroe, hoping that Match can use the Scions' influence to get him out of prison the same way Thancred did for Match. Match has discovered that after he ran away from Limsa Lominsa back in ARR, Hargrave sent the Yellowjackets after him in order to save his own skin. The WoL must help Match decide whether to intercede with Merlwyb on Hargrave's behalf; to break him out illegally; or to leave him to rot. Whether Match is willing to start rebuilding his relationship with his adoptive father depends on conversation choices made by the WoL throughout the quest.

Potential tarot card changes:

If the WoL achieves a high approval rating: The Fool

If romanced by the WoL: Knight of Wands

...

Thank you so much for the tag, @azure-dragonsinger this was so much fun to put together! Plus I got like, a dozen fic ideas so keep your eyes open for those.

@draculas-husband I don't know if this would be your thing but if it is I'd love to learn more about your character!! As for anyone else I don't know who has or hasn't been tagged in this already so if anyone wants to give it a goof please go for it, I'd love to learn more about everyone's WoLs this way :)

[pg--animation]

The Pink Wedding

[noobineorzea-blog]

Those praetorium cutscenes are long. Like, really long.

Did a good deed and joined a cutscene focused run, and it’s kinda weird to have the boss stare at you for so long XD

[a-soul-full-of-stars]

"almost saying i love you before stopping themselves" for the matchcred prompts please!!!!

“Stop! Thieves!!”

The stallkeep’s words ring out over the crowds on Saphire Avenue, chasing after a pair of Brass Blades, panting, their armor an oven in the midday sun. They press hurriedly through the crowds, clearly hunting for something or someone.

Unseen and pressed into the shadow of a sidestreet, two more figures watch as the Blades pass them by. One, a hyur of about eight and twenty years, the other a younger m'iquote dressed in the manner of a gladiator. Thancred Waters and Match Munroe, getting themselves in trouble once more.

“Did we lose ‘em?” Match’s voice is a hissed whisper.

“Heh.. It would appear so. Unsurprising. The Brass Blades are far from the cream of the crop as far as law enforcement goes."

It's been a long few weeks of misadventures such as this, ever since Thancred's curiosity over this seemingly-invulnerable new fighter in the Bloodsands had gotten the better of him and he'd invited the young m'iquote for a night of carousing. Since then, he's found himself in more scrapes than he has in years, pulling pranks like a wharf-rat barely out of his short trousers. And yet he can't deny it's been the most fun he's had since leaving Old Sharlyan.

“Buncha pricks if you ask me," Match sniffs. "Them and the Yellow Jackets. Besides," he smiles, tossing a shining apple to his white-haired companion, "it's only a bit of fruit, right?"

Thancred catches the apple in one hand, smiling back as his friend takes a white, toothy bite. Juice dribbles down the m'iquote's chin. It is true what the Limsan privateers say; the thieved apple certainly does taste sweeter. "Another daring heist pulled off without a trick. I commend you for your speed with a snatched prize."

Match beams, winking, juice still dripping from his mouth. "How about we step up the prize next time? Seeing as we make such a good team and all."

Thancred raises a teasing eyebrow, eyes lingering on those juice-stained lips for just a moment. "Oh? What did you have in mind?"

Match's expression changes. He raises a finger, his brows furrowing in righteous anger. "Well, there's this hunter, see, comes through every coupla weeks to sell what he's caught. Thing is, there's this one git what buys the whole lot and then sells it in scraps for way more gil just so none of us Pearl Alley lot can even get a taste!" Match sniffs. "I reckon we wait 'til his spent his gil then snatch the whole lot. Make it that we get to be the ones eating like empresses for once."

"A daring proposal. And how would suggest we go about seizing your prize?"

"Easy! We go up, all cloaks and stuff, pretend to be buyers, then you snatch the meat, I flip the table, then make for Thanalan until the Brass Blades get tired of lookin'!"

Thancred can't help but laugh at the simple, silly audaciousness of the so-called plan. “You’re a wild one, Match, and no mistake! Gods but I love-” He catches himself just in time, heart pounding at the narrow miss. Easy there, Waters. That's a dangerous thought. No time for words like that. Not in his line of work.

Match raises an eyebrow. “What was that, Than?”

“I love… How much fun I've been having. With you.” The smile on Thancred’s face doesn't quite reach his eyes. Not that the m’iquote notices.

Match grins back. “You’re not so bad yourself. Didn’t know you had it in you, pulling tricks like this!”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me and my misspent youth, Munroe.” And if I’m not careful, one day some of it will slip out. That and all too much more.

And there it is, the dark cloud in Thancred's heart that snatches "love-yous" from his lips before they have a chance to become more than thought. Twelve know he's a dishonest man by trade. Aye, and good at that trade too. Would not do to let sentimentality get in the way of that now. Besides, still plenty of fun ways to assess the potential of this strange, wild boy he's found without making fools of them both. He grins again, this time with a little more conviction. "Well, why not. Let's find this dishonest merchant making gold from hunger and see if we can't teach him a lesson or two."

...

Thank you for the ask @yloiseconeillants! Match and Thancred's long summer of Ul'Dahn misadventures is probably the happiest they are in their relationship, so it was great to give a bit of a snapshot into what that looked like.

unresolved feelings prompts!

[a-soul-full-of-stars]

The grinning m'iquote catches your eye, giving you a cheeky grin. "Hey, you knew in town? Looking for a guide? I've been here a while now, I know these streets like the back of my hand."

POV: you are in a visual novel playing the Match route

[a-soul-full-of-stars]

caressing the other’s cheek

(I'll leave the pairing up to you tho :3)

@azure-dragonsinger sorry this took so long to write!! But it's a scene I've wanted to put down in words for aaaages so thank you for the prompt. Kinda got away from me a little, so most of it is under the cut.

...

The Syrcus Tower stands empty and echoing as Match sprints up the stairs. It holds no terrors anymore, not since that attack years ago when he and his allies took on the awakened ancient Allagans or his last desperate charge up these crystal stairs in another world, another life. Both times now, he's been forced to leave one ally behind. At long, long last, this time he gets to bring one back.

The Exarch's instructions were clear. His past self will be waiting in stasis in the heart of the tower, his mind holding the immense power of Syrcus at bay, keeping it from awakening once more. The tower is impossibly vast within, with passages and staircases stretching off seemingly forever, but after so long in the First, after so many traversals up and down to the Exarch's solar Match could map his course on a bar napkin from memory alone. Desperate, certain hope drives him on, the same hope had carried him all the way here from Revenant's Toll since depositing the souls of his fellow Scions back where they belonged. This will work. This has to work.

G'raha Tia is right where the Exarch promised he would be. He lies on his back in an ovular crystal, open to the front, like some alien cot. He could almost be sleeping were it not for the utter stillness of his body, the way the dust motes do not reach past the lip of the crystal. His hands are at his side, palms open. Behind his closed eyelids his eyes are still, free of the animation and agitation that otherwise would so frequently move and play in those eyes. Quietly, reverentially, Match places the Spirit Vessel beside his still ally. The aether hums for a moment, the same glow beginning to emanate.

Match holds his breathe. Come on. Come on. Come back to us. Come back to me. Please...

For a moment, Match wonders when it became a hope that G'raha Tia would return to his side, and not simply rejoin the Scions. But before he can ponder any further, there is movement. Scarlet eyes flutter, blink. A mouth parts as lungs fill with their first breathes in years.

"...Match Munroe... My... My friend..." G'raha Tia's arm moves slowly, like his body is remembering how to gather the muscles and power. His hand comes to Match's face. For a moment, his fingers lightly trace Match's features, moving over them, following the paths of scars and laugh-lines with the same wonder of an explorer tracing unexplored paths on a map. His palm opens, his hand pressing to Match's cheek. "It worked, my friend. You did it."

Tears of joy immediately spring to Match's eyes as he sighs with relief and leans against the palm. A wave of exhaustion strikes him, as if he can finally feel the weight of the past months spent away. But even as it does so, G'raha's thumb moves, stroking the tear from his cheek. In just that simplest of movement, that weight, the tole taken and price paid, slips from his shoulders as though it were naught but an old cloak discarded on an inn room floor. "No tears, my friend. I have missed you so."

"Missed you too, Raha," Match sniffles. It's not true; before the Exarch's hood had flown back and revealed the familiar m'iquote beneath, truthfully Match had spared little thought over the years for the young, brash archer that had insisted on remaining in the Crystal Tower. But since seeing the lengths G'raha Tia had gone to as the Exarch, the work he had done, the belief he had shown in Match... There is an ache in Match's heart, as happy and as hopeful as that day he had embraced Yugiri after the liberation of Doma. G'raha Tia is home. Not yet able to say the words out loud, Match makes a silent promise. No more leaving you behind, Raha. Never again.

...

This was so much fun to write! This is right at the start of what becomes Match's longest relationship, a throuple of himself, G'raha Tia and Yugiri Mistwalker. It takes them... A hot minute to figure out how that works, and maybe one day I'll share everything I'm writing about that whole situation (i may or may not have the start of the multi-chapter epic that is them finally all getting together). Thank you for the ask!!

Touch prompts!