#named m!Azem

[noxtivagus]

found this just now n i'm freaking out silently

[mrlarkstin]

Eramus Larkstin

B A S I C S

Name: Eramus Larkstin

Nicknames: None

Age: 31 (Age he became an immortal dragon at)

Nameday: 29th Sun of the 1st Astral Moon

Race: Ishgardian Elezen

Gender: Transman

Orientation: Pansexual

Profession: Warrior of Light, Culinarian, Alchemist

P H Y S I C A L A S P E C T S

Hair: A messy mop of dusty rose and dark red hair. The messy nature really shows just how busy he is. The feathers he braids into his hair are feathers from his lover Vrtra.

Eyes: Originally evergreen, the light poisoning turned his eyes a bright emerald, and now, thanks to joining with Azem, he has one orange eye and one green eye. Both his pupils are slit thanks to Vrtra's blood coursing through him.

Skin: Pale and covered in cream scales from Vrtra's blood that keeps him alive.

Tattoos/Scars: A red dragon in a tea cup sits on his left shoulder, a reminder of a friend who fell in the Calamity 5 years ago. He has scars all over his body, scars from his top surgery and scars from battles won and lost.

F A M I L Y

Parents: Biological mother has passed, his biological father lives in the Firmament in Ishgard. He was raised but a lovely Hyur couple called Marie and Fenris Furor. They are his entire world, he is working on his relationship with his biological father still.

Siblings: His adoptive sister Kaolin! Marie and Fenris' daughter!

Grandparents: N/A. He never met either set of his grandparents, hes not even sure if they are alive or not.

In-Laws/Others: Oh boy, lmao, he is married to both Vrtra and Estinien. So he has Alberic and all the remaining greatwyrms as well as Middie in his ear constantly lmao nothing worse then a father in law in your ear all the time!! He also has two kids as of 6.5! Harklan, his oldest son and Altan his youngest daughter!

S K I L L S

Abilities: A skilled culinarian, there is nothing he cannot make. He is also an excellent Paladin and has been blessed by Halone (Oathbreaker), Hydaelyn (Hydaelyn's Chosen) and currently by Vrtra (Vrtra's Valiant).

Hobbies: He loves to read, bake and cook, shop and travel. And nothing brings him more joy then just curling up with his family and spending the evening reading or cooking with them!

T R A I T S

Most Positive Trait: Die hard loyal.

Most Negative Trait: Quiet, baring sins of the past alone.

L I K E S

Colours: Whites, greens, reds and golds.

Smells: Fresh cut grass, the forest after a rain fall, the ocean and a bakery.

Textures: Comfortable and soft fabrics!

O T H E R D E T A I L S

Smokes: Nope!

Drinks: Only in the bath or during a celebration.

Mount Insurance: HE IS INSURED TO THE TEETH

Been Arrested: No, but he has killed a man and gotten away with it. He will take it to his grave.

Tagged By: @sundered-souls & @lilbittymonster Thank you!! This was fun!

Tagging: @ishgardenjoyer @weedsmokingcatgirl @asteriasfallingstarsandtears @ishgardmuffin @avalon821 @bnuuywol (No pressure to do it!)

[mealvaan]

Halcyon

"With all due respect, Your Honour, who cares? Like, who cares... like, come on."

The agora fell silent. All masks turned toward the Convocation's table — the archons, the heliaiaa, Pashtarot. Poor Pashtarot's eyes bugged through his mask. They didn't need to turn to know that the esteemed Redeemer, Emet-Selch, was boring his eyes into the back of their head too.

A cough interrupted what felt like epochs of silence. And there was so little reason to cough in Amaurot.

"We will convene again when the sun touches the pinnacle of Akadaemia Anyder," recited Pashtarot in the lowest voice he could muster. "Court is dismissed."

Though the crowds evacuated the agora viscously, the people left their trio a wide berth.

"Calliope. I'm curious as to what ungodly thing possessed you to say that in front of the whole assembly." That was Hades, hissing in their ear, using their true name no less. He perched over their shoulder like the reaper, judgement sloping down his nose and dripping onto their shoulder. Slow and unapologetically sinister. The threat of waterboarding, but only the threat. They weren't scared of little Hades, because—

"You can't say they didn't have a point. This whole affair's been rather frivolous, don't you think?" chimed Hythlodaeus over their other shoulder. He had only managed to keep a polite smile static until Pashtarot dismissed the court, then broke down into laughter the moment they vacated their seats. "All this arguing over concept ownership. I've explained many times what the Bureau's view is on the matter, yet sit through the proceedings we must. All for a couple of sharks."

"If you were listening, you'd know it's not about the sharks. It's a manner of principle."

"Hades, it is definitely about the sharks," Calliope yawned. Even their boredom sounded of a song, waltzing through an octave and back down again.

"Is there something you'd rather be doing?" Hades asked ditheringly, only to immediately regret it. He knew what they were going to say.

"We're overdue for spring cleaning at the house," Hythlodaeus pointed out. "Especially since someone took out all the books I'd arranged last cycle and left them on the coffee table again." Someone rolled his eyes.

"There's a new ice cream installation down the street from the Bureau. Can't we go and try it instead of sitting through all this nonsense? I couldn't care less who claims original ownership to the sharks with wings concept. It's no different from the hovershark."

Calliope had said it so bluntly earlier in the sennight, but they needn't repeat it. So many Amaurotines, wasting time just because they could. There was so much of the star to explore, and they were antsy being stuck behind a juror's table all day.

"It's not like they don't have enough people on the judiciary panel anyway, Hades," Hythlodaeus reasoned, though the desire for ice cream at home was pure id. "They invited half the people on the heliaiaa for this. I've given my statement."

"And I know you're tired of calling the assembly because Pashtarot keeps scheduling reconvention with buildings that are malms away," Calliope pointed out.

Hades turned around and stopped in his steps to look at the two. Hythlodaeus had a tempered expression, quirking a brow at Hades like he was being unreasonable for doing his job. Calliope merely smirked, knowing full well that they were being a menace and Hades would listen to them anyway.

"... Fine. We'll get ice cream and go home," declared the honorable Emet-Selch in a grumble. "But you're telling Pashtarot why we're leaving early, Azem. I won't have him pulling me aside after the next Convocation meeting."

"I'll let him know." Calliope summoned the spring breeze betwixt their index and thumb. Into it they whispered a verse, maddening meter and crisp syllables. With a kiss, they sent the wind on its way. Like a ribbon of silk, it floated into the agora past all its once-constituents, and Pashtarot would have the message tucked behind his ear within a manner of seconds.

And a few minutes passed before Calliope received his response.

We need to talk tomorrow.

"He says it's fine."

[pettyeti]

Character Details: Etienne

𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒔

Name: Etienne (True Name: Haruhisa no Kaifu) Nicknames: Eti, Haru Age: 36 Nameday: March 1, First Sun of the Second Astral Moon Race: Raen Au Ra Gender: Cis Male Orientation: Bisexual Profession: Warrior of Light (Retired), occasional mercenary.

𝒑𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒔

Hair: Inky black with blue highlights. As he gets older, his highlights turn blue-gray. Eyes: Ice blue. Right eye is serpentine and glows slightly. Colloquially, people refer to it as a "Demon Eye." Skin: Tan. Tattoos/Scars: Following the events of Pandaemonium, Etienne was gifted "tattoos" by his Azem, Selene. These aren't actually tattoos, but serve as conduits for him to channel Ancient magics for brief periods of time. Eti didn't acquire many scars during his time as a WoL. It was only during his final confrontation in Ultima Thule that this changed, having received a pretty dire stab wound on his stomach (thanks Zenos.)

𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚

Parents: Chihaya no Yatsurugi (F) [Deceased] Born to the noble family of Yatsurugi. Chihaya was reclusive and quiet by nature, preferring to remain hidden from the public eye. She was known to suffer from severe bouts of melancholia which progressively got worse as she aged. Chihaya loved her son dearly, and Etienne was all but attached to her at the hip as a child. Sadly, she grew more and more apathetic until she withdrew from Etienne completely. Gyokusei no Kaifu (M) [Deceased] Head of the Kaifu clan. Etienne's relationship with his father was resentful at best. Gyokusei saw potential in him, but believed he suffered from the same "laziness" his sister had in abundance. He hated how timid and sensitive Etienne was, and would often push his son to the very brink in order to mold him into someone deserving of his birthright. Despite everything, Etienne still loves both his parents. He just doesn't enjoy talking about them. Siblings: None Grandparents: To be continued.... In-Laws & Others: In-laws are deceased, but if Noelle and Hemlock (Vrai's Moms) were still alive they would like him <3 Etienne's only surviving family member is his aunt on his father's side - Sayo no Kaifu. Etienne visits her once a year and they have a good relationship.

𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒔

Abilities: A master martialist, Etienne possesses impeccable stamina and strength. He's particularly adept with daggers, katanas, and greatswords, and hand-to-hand combat. (NIN, SAM, DRK, MNK) Thanks to Perfect Alexander's weapons, he also has some mastery over time magic. While he can't alter the flow of time itself, he can perceive it differently, allowing him to move at speeds that should be impossible. Hobbies: LOVES FISHING. Gardening, painting landscapes, and writing poetry. Will talk your ear off about Korpokkurs. Genuinely enjoys training and fighting.

𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒔

Most Positive: His honesty. Etienne will never, ever lie to you. He would rather count every grain of sand in the sea than resort to deception. Need an honest opinion? He's your man. Need a straight answer? He will give it to you. (He's not book smart at all, but for good friends he's emotionally intelligent and highly empathetic. He speaks so little because he listens veeerrry intently, and he considers every. single. word he says before it leaves his mouth.) Most Negative: Destructive and cruel. When his melancholia is at his worse, he gets EXTREMELY cold and ices people out. Impossible to read, he shutters his emotions until he inevitably explodes on the battlefield or in his room.

𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒔

Colors: Black, white, grey, and (light) blue. Smells: The ocean. Faint floral scents (hyacinth). Polished steel. Incense. Clean linen. Textures: Silk. Sand. Flower petals. Serpent scales. Feathers. Pearls. Drinks: Tea (green, chamomile)

𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒔

Smokes: Yes. Owns a kiseru and smokes kizami. Only smokes after particularly stressful days. Drinks: Rarely. Only enjoys wine. Drugs: Somnus (VERY rarely.) Mount Issuance: Unicorn and Ixion. Both are Azem's creations and so hold an affinity for Etienne. Been Arrested: No.

Tagged By: @thefreelanceangel and @desertdragon

Tagging: If you see this, you are tagged. Yes, you.

[akirakirxaa]

FFXIVWrite Prompt 21: Grave

Rating: M

Word Count: 697

Warnings: Suicidal ideation, Suicide attempt, Blood

Summary: Akira stopped the Final Days, but is stranded in the past, with no way back to her future or her friends. For saving the star and averting disaster, the Convocation has done their best to make her feel welcome, but Akira can't help but feel empty inside. [Time travel AU? Not really sure what to call this AU. Same universe as Prompt 1 but it's not necessary to read that one to understand this one.]

Master Post

Akira sat in the dark room, not bothering to turn on the lights. The walls were bare, the windows just as decorative as every other room in the capitol building. There were a few small furnishings, nothing beyond the necessary. A small bed in one corner, a table and chair, and…that was it. Akira waved off the concerns of grateful Words that insisted they would be happy to make anything she needed or desired to make her comfortable. She needed to think about what she would need, she claimed. Maybe sleep on it. Not a soul on the convocation protested Elidibus’ decision to allow her to stay until they found her more permanent lodgings. Akira should be grateful for such generosity.

It was a shame it was going to go to waste.

Akira stared at her greatsword in the dark, the purple crystals a memorial to a future that now would never be. A blow that would never need be struck, least of all by her. It would be only fitting for her final breaths to be taken by these crystals, when their creator had been felled by her in his attempt to strike her down.

“Maybe your future still exists in a parallel dimension,” Azem had said encouragingly when she’d faced a room entirely devoid of the portal that had brought her to the past. “We’ll research it. Surely we can find you a way back to help your friends!”

Azem — Persephone, she reminded herself — was so optimistic, but the grave faces of other convocation members at her back told Akira what she needed to know. None of them would risk experimenting with time when they only just barely escaped disaster. Elidibus — or Themis, as she’d learned his name was — had insisted that they would do everything possible to make her feel welcome, and so far he was delivering, but…

Akira could not stop thinking about her dearest friends. The ones she’d completely erased from existence. And their loved ones. Their friends. People she never met and now never would. Places she would never see. An emptiness yawned wide inside her soul like a grave, ready to devour her whole.

She flipped the sword, nearly as long as she was tall, and braced the handle against the floor. Akira remembered Hythlodaeus telling her about how the ancients chose when to die, returning to the star when their purpose was complete. Was hers not complete? She stopped the Final Days and erased the world she loved in the process. What was her soul but a reminder of the disaster so barely averted? Everyone would be better rid of it. Would her soul even be able to join the Lifestream in this time, torn and damaged as it was?

She gripped the blade of the sword and angled it towards her chest, hands bloody as she clenched them around the sharpened edge. The amethyst glow seemed to brighten in the dark. All she would have to do was lean forward.

A knock at the door. Akira ignored it, glaring at the blade as she gathered her courage. Another knock, and she bit her lip, breathing heavy as she tried, tried to throw herself upon the sword, but continued to just stand there, hands tight on the crystal and blood dripping down.

“Akira? Sorry to barge in but I wanted to see how you were— Akira!” Hythlodaeus hesitantly pushed open the door that she’d foolishly forgotten to lock, only to push it out of the way as he hurried to her side, knocking the blade from her hand where it clunked heavily to the floor. He pulled her close as the emotions that she’d so stalwartly hidden just beneath the surface since realizing she had no way home cascaded down her face and into his robe.

“Why?” he asked, voice shocked. Akira struggled for breath.

“You said that… that once your purpose is done, you return to the star… That it was beautiful…” she choked out between sobs. He clutched her tighter, and they sank to the floor as he gently rocked her back and forth.

“Not like this,” he murmured quietly into her hair. “Never like this.”

[yzeltia]

FFXIVwrite2023 27. Sole

Characters: Themis/Elidibus, U'rahn Nuhn/Gelos/Azem Expansion: Endwalker Rating: M Notes: Mild petting, Dialogue from raid at the end

"Please get your feet off my desk."

Elidibus's request was met with laughter and compliance from Azem as he sat up properly in the other's chair. The Emissary offered a light smile, seeing the Tracker's things in a pile beside him, a promise of a prolonged visit. Gingerly, he shut the door behind him then moved to join the other, sitting on the side of the desk.

"I brought you something," the red haired man said, sliding a box over to Elidibus's thigh.

"A souvenir from your recent journey?"

"More or less a reward for my heroism. Remember the island I saved?"

"You've brought me the fabled grapes then," Eldibus asked, lifting the lid to his prize to find himself right.

"You see through me as always. Such a promising young genius."

Azem laughed again while the Emissary frowned, then plucked a single grape from a vine to push against the laughing man's lips to silence him.

"I am only a moon younger," he reminded the Traveler, "We are alone, Gelos."

Azem's face burned at hearing his given name, bravado faltering. His hand gently rested on the Emissary's thigh, hand shaking into the box before offering a grape in return. Elidibus parted his lips obediently, a blush too, appearing across under his mask. Gelos removed his own, setting it on the table to look at the other properly with his golden eyes.

"I know it was my idea to drop our titles but it is still melodic, yet unnerving to hear you say my name. I fear Emet-Selch will burst in to scold us any moment."

"That is because he is always scolding you."

"Hey hey! He's not always scolding me. Sometimes it's Loghrif," Gelos protested, taking the younger man's ankle gently into his hand to remove his shoe and sock.

"What are you doing?"

"Checkin' to see if you've healed properly,” he answered, hand glowing lightly with his warm aether.

Elidibus lowered his mask as he watched the other gently turn his foot in his hand. Gelos frowned, rubbing his thumb against the joint. The Travler  jumped as the other soon wrested his foot from his grasp then slid it up his thigh.

“Themis…” 

“It has long been healed. You cannot fret over each little injury that comes to be when we cross lances. Would you deny me a chance to spar with you again for fear of hurting me? I would be sorely disappointed,” Elidibus cooed softly.

Gelos frowned then slipped his hand up his love’s calve, face red as he felt the other’s foot rest on his groin, awakening him promptly. “You are my heart. You fill me with joy that I can continue to smile and make me want to be the perfect hero.”

With that, he pulled Themis forward into his lap, letting the other lower down to steal a kiss. Eyes closed, the two palmed over one another’s robes, opening and letting them fall aside, Gelos bare beneath his. The red-haired man chuckled lightly as he earned a disapproving look.

“Do you ever have on clothes?”

“You sound like Lahabreaha now. The robes are so hot and impractical otherwise. It’s one or the other and robes seemed to be the preferred choice of garb. As long as I don’t get fancy with the gymnastics no one notices. And I guess I have to sit right in my chair at the meeting. I can change if you want.”

Themis thought for a moment, looking down between them before kissing Gelos again, hand raking through his hair before resting against the other’s firm chest before sighing, “Yes…but first the inevitable.”

-

“How long were you going to keep this from me?”

Themis stared into the red sky as Gelos glared at him from behind, not answering him.

“Well!?”

“Until it came to pass. We knew what you’d say. Who told you?”

“Methe…Venat confirmed it. Themis, you musn’t. I will find another way to save our star!”

Themis shook his head then turned, unable to meet Gelos’s gaze, fist balled.

“There is no time to argue. The Convocation has decided, even if you dissent, I will become the heart of our God and save at least half of us. It is better than nothing.”

“It is not! Even if it were just your life it would be an unacceptable loss! There must be a way! There will be a way! You just need to give me time,” Gelos pleaded, “If you…if you give up your heart for the star’s…then you’d be giving up mine as well.”

“How do you mean?”

“I love you,” Gelos said plainly.

“I love you too,” Themis replied before turning back to the sky, “So much that I would see you continue your adventurers in service of our star that I know we both love.”

“And if it doesn’t work? What then? What will this hurt be for?”

“It will work.”

“But what if it doesn’t!?”

The other’s gaze didn’t falter, “That I could stand by your side forever...I alone can bear this as I am the chosen Emissary. Gelos, I promise you that I shall never die.”

Gelos huffed, stepping forward to turn the other to face him, staring furiously into the bright blue eyes of his lover. He kissed him, hard, trying to inspire any passion from the temperate young man. There was a brief return of affection, the slightest peck and then nothing. Themis did not move to embrace him, nor stroke his hands through his hair. He remained unmoved in the wake of his duty.

“If you do this…then I will have no choice but to abandon my position and work against you to save you.”

“You would abandon me for Venat then?”

“No. I will find a third path. The hero’s path that saves us all!”

Eldibus remained still, watching Gelos pull back and clench his fists before turning to run off in pursuit of his third answer. 

- “Free I’m no longer needed…” U’rahn ran up to Themis as he fell to his knee, the other weakly looking into his eyes as he started to aetherically glow. He frowned, feeling the other’s hand enter his. “Do not look so crestfallen, my friend. These few moments of clarity are more than I could have asked for.”

“But…I need you, Themis,” U’rahn found himself saying.

Leaning in, the Nuhn found himself kissing the other softly, feeling his aether leave his body and flow into the other’s. The Ancient lightly rested his palm on his shoulder, pulling back. “This warmth…Your aether… You’ve grasped the fraying strands of my being and tied them together with your own…”

“I uh…I’m not good at all that aether stuff. I just…sorta felt like that would work,” U’rahn answered, heart racing as he tried to avoid the stares of his party, “Did it work?” “A bit…Nevertheless, I fear that I am here on borrowed time.” “Yeah? Oh…” U’rahn answered, ears lowering as he stood up with the other. “Yes.  I only hope that I can see you through the last of our battles. Until then, I will cherish every moment..as I should have done more back then.”

U’rahn smiled weakly, “With Gelos…with…uh…me?” Themis looked up at the ceiling of the Convocation’s sanctum then gave a little nod, “Yes…and no. I am still Elidibus…the Emissary. As such, it falls upon me to judge Athena who would disrupt our carefully maintained balance to fulfill her own desires. I swear I shall not waver in this duty.

You are simply a reflection of the one I loved. Your warmth is his…but it also is your own. This gravitation, do not let it worry you. Just simply let it be and let things play out as intended and enjoy the moment while it lasts.

“Right Right…”

Themis nodded then turned to the exit.

“Let us return to Erichthnios and Lahabrea. There is much I would share with you before we embark upon our final ascent.”

U’rahn nodded then started to lead the other back, stopping briefly, something pulling him back to ensure the other could walk at his side, even if it were only for a brief moment.

[tinygamertris]

Jude kir Dravis

WoL/OC tag meme! Tagged by @ecosystem-administrator, thank you!

Tagging in turn: @nights-at-crystarium, @graha-stan-account, any FFXIV fans who see this and want to go for it!

(Choose whichever WoL/OC you want, do it more than once, ignore me entirely. what am I, a cop?)

B A S I C S

Name: Jude kir Dravis (kir for Veteran Medicus)

Nicknames: Hey Jude, Judy, Mongrel (Derogatory)

Age: 24 at the start of ARR so probably somewhere around 27-29 at this point

Nameday: 21st Sun of the Fifth Astral Moon

Race: Half Garlean half-Keeper Miqo'te

Gender: Male leaning nonbinary

Sexuality: Homosexual

Profession: Medic, Scientist and Engineer in a big ol' mess

P H Y S I C A L     A S P E C T S

Hair: Dark Brown, shaggy, formerly short but grew to jaw length during his time in Elpis

Eyes: Amber

Skin: Light dusty brown

Tattoos/scars: A scar on the left side of his face centred around a blade's cut with branching lightning-like patterns leading out from it, courtesy of Zenos yae Galvus in Doma. An Archon tattoo on his right shoulder post-Endwalker, for the studies he did on Akasa/Dynamis and how it manifests in Ultima Thule.

F A M I L Y

Parents: Father, a pureblood Garlean and head of House Dravis before the second Garlean Civil War; Mother (Mama), a Keeper Miqo'te who rose 'above her station' under Emperor Solus as a Medicus; Adopted Mother, his Father's pureblood Garlean wife. His Father and Adopted Mother have an open relationship and both have brought children and partners into the family through adoption.

Siblings: Three half-siblings through his father, one pure Garlean and two half Elezen. Two half-siblings through his adopted mother, both half Hyur. A sibling adopted from an orphanage after showing immense potential with magitek, pure Hyur (Gentian).

Grandparents: Father's parents, both pure Garlean, former heads of House Dravis, both deceased. Mama's parents, somewhere in Ala Mhigo, current status unknown. Adopted mother's parents, both pure Garlean, current heads of House Priscus. (Yes this means Maxima is a distant cousin.)

In-laws and other: No official in-laws but try telling House Fortemps that he's not family, they'll laugh in your face! Ameliance considered him family long before they met, and Fourchenault has been talked around to naming him a ward of House Leveilleur after seeing how much he adores and will protect the twins.

Pets: He had a pet cat called Scraps when he was young, but no pets since. He considers his life in Eorzea too disruptive (and downright dangerous since falling in with the Scions) to be a responsible pet owner.

S K I L L S

Abilities: Has inherited an empathic talent from his Azem, which manifested along with his echo during the aftermath of Carteneau. Two years training at the Magitek Academy in the Imperial City before transferring to Medicus training. Able to use a gun, gunblade and bow with decent proficiency, and a strong talent with the geometry and mathematics of the Arcanist and both its offshoots. Became a Reaper when the Telophoroi made their appearance with the full intention of returning to Garlemald and doing what needs doing to protect his people. Noble upbringing gave him some small diplomatic knowledge, but he prefers to leave that kind of thing to Alphinaud.

Hobbies: Cooking, sewing, reading, pretty much all kinds of crafting. Loves animals and has been known to spend off-days helping with chocobo stables all over Eorzea.

T R A I T S

Most positive trait: He has a deep, deep love for his friends and family, and will go to ridiculous lengths to protect them. If he decides you're one of his, you can expect him to go to the full extent of his abilities and then some for you.

Most negative trait: He has a lot of difficulty with life-long depression and anxiety, a habit of thinking that his problems 'aren't big enough' to try and get help for (he's on the spectrum but Garlemald doesn't have very good mental health anything let alone support), and these have combined into a nasty tendency to hide his negative feelings and bottle them up until he explodes.

L I K E S

Colors: White, black, grey and dark green.

Smells: Herbs from cooking and making medicine, mild soap.

Textures: Soft, fluffy, smooth and warm. Give him a nice soft fuzzy blanket and he's a happy lad.

Drinks: Cool to cold, fruity, sometimes fizzy. He loves lemonade with berries in it especially.

O T H E R    D E T A I L S

Smokes: Not a chance, he knows what that does to people's lungs!

Drinks: Only occasionally, he doesn't enjoy being drunk and tends only to partake at his very lowest or very highest moments.

Drugs: He's tried weed a few times - on Urianger's suggestion, which surprised everyone but the Pixies - and didn't mind it but he doesn't really see the point in seeking it out. And as for anything stronger, well, he's a Medicus. He doesn't want to risk holes in his brain!

Mount Issuance: Precious, their Grand Company chocobo, is still one of his most trusted companions and is pampered at every opportunity. Muffin, his black chocobo, lives a cushy life in Gridania and is often visited by Kan-E-Senna herself; Jude gets sick at the idea of the 'bo that Haurchefant raised getting hurt. He recently was gifted a flying crescent moon mount by the Loporrits and has great fun giving them all rides.

Been Arrested: Only in MSQ incidents, although he's absolutely come close once or twice. Looking at you Asahi you colossal piece of shit!

[eemamminy-art]

I saw your response about ships and decided to see what you thought about some of the rare ones I like! I thiiiink you encountered these at one point on the book club but perhaps not.

Nero/Solus(rehydrated)

Nero/Exarch

Nero/m!wol

Varis/wol

Emet/Exarch/Nero

The Chais/wol

The Chais/Innocence (these here and below literally just occurred to me, but...)

The Chais/Exarch

The Chais/Emet

Innocence/Exarch

I'm actually not in the bookclub! But I have heard mention of some of these pairs!!

There's a lot here so I'll do a cut :3

Nero/Solus

When you say rehydrated I'm assuming you mean like, the more youthful Solus? I think if anything Nero would be way too fascinated by the allagan cloning and it was just irritate Solus gjdsgjds I could see them as like fwb but without the friends part lol colleagues with benefits I guess?? I get the sense Nero has a really hard time being emotionally vulnerable but likes to have fun physically at least

Nero/Exarch

Okay omg... I have to tell you... I had this like cracked AU idea before that like, Nero ended up as the exarch instead?? Like since he was really trying to stay inside the tower at the end of the CT quests I was like hey what if he did... So I don't think it's a stretch to imagine they both ended up in there! Hundreds of years of isolation with just the two of them, I think they'd spend a lot of time deep in their research and work but would eventually develop some sort of codependency. I think that would be interesting to see! :D

Nero/m!wol

I think it would depend on the wol's backstory but I think it could be interesting! Wol/npc stuff is always tricky to navigate because I think where it's great with one wol it doesn't work with another, so I think it's a bit hard to answer since one half of the ship is always going to be up to interpretation since it's an OC. But I think just looking at it from Nero's perspective, I could see it starting as another competitive sort of thing with Cid-- feeling like he's stealing the wol away from him, whether or not Cid had romantic interest in the wol or not, but just wanting to claim something against him in their neverending rivalry. I do like that you specified m!wol too because I can't imagine Nero with a woman personally

Varis/wol

So I actually do ship Varis with an OC! Not the wol though, the OC is Zenos' mom although I know technically she does have a name in canon now but I pretend I do not see it lol. It's a really tragic ship the way I do it because it leans into azemet kind of, where she wasn't Azem but was an ancient who was with Emet and is now sundered and married to Varis. To kind of compound their already bad family dynamic and make Emet sadder lol (affectionate).

But speaking of Varis specifically with the wol, I think that could be really interesting too! I think back to that scene in the stormblood patches where he absolutely owns the whole alliance and they're all scrambling like oh shit we actually know next to nothing about this guy what the fuck dsgjsdj iconic scene and one of my favorite parts of the game, but I would want to think that's where there's a turning point for the wol. They're like fascinated with him and feel so conflicted about everything. I think it would be a really good launching point for an AU where the wol switches sides and I would love to see it :D

Emet/Exarch/Nero

Well I love Emet/Exarch already so I think adding Nero into the mix would be interesting as well! I feel like it would be a combination of my answers above for Nero/Solus and Nero/Exarch. Possibly brings out the vindictive shitty side of Nero if he was already getting codependent with the Exarch (I could see him acting that way toward the wol as well) and I think it would be a really destructive relationship for the three of them. But that's sort of the appeal of Emet/Exarch anyway imo, that they make each other worse and I think adding Nero to that would just compound it

The Chais/others

I will combine these all into one answer because it is going to be the same (possibly disappointing) one: I love the Chais but I really don't see them having an open relationship. I feel this way about the Leveilleurs too, and I know it's popular with both of them to have it be an open relationship. I am just really passionate about being a monogamous wifeguy and so I absolutely project that onto m/f ships gdsjgjds Extremely weak for the devoted husband who is kind of insufferable otherwise but he's just a gooey sweetheart with his wife 🥺 it's too relatable for me so I can't bring myself to ship it as poly due to it having that personal sort of connection for me. I'm sorry!! 😭

Innocence/Exarch

I hadn't thought of this before but it's an interesting thought 👀 Sort of like a bad end scenario, I feel like? The Exarch was ready to throw himself away in that moment so why not let himself be corrupted? Or consumed? My brain immediately goes to body horror type of stuff for them and it's a lovely thought, I will need to ponder this one more ☺

I hope you found my thoughts on these interesting! Thanks for the ask! I definitely hadn't considered a lot of these before!!

[elizabethrobertajones]

Talk to me about 3 for the culture/geography questions! Any or all of your characters, whoever has the most interesting answers.

How does your WoL/OC relate to the culture of their species as established in lore? Do they consider themselves a typical example of their kind? Are they in touch with their heritage? How does this affect their interactions with others of their own kind?

I think Froggo thinks of herself as a very typical Hellsguard :D She was raving to get herself a mercenary name and set off into the world and start adventuring, and heading off to make your fortune as a mercenary or treasure hunter is a fairly typical career choice to the point that I don't think she really thinks Azem Brain is even a thing in her case, like, okay, I'd have done that anyway though. Who DOESN'T want to leave home and go on adventures and become a well-known and respected warrior??

Doesn't even stop to think about homebody or boring Hellsguard who would Not do that XD

Galvin is the most woefully out of touch with his culture viera, who was startled and horrified to grow up into a guy since he'd have to go with the other men and do manly woodman things when he just wanted to stay home and read books on black magic. Realising being a rare (*cough* in lore not player character terms) male viera also meant he may be expected to have lots of babies freaked him the rest of the way out and he slipped away and hopped on a boat and that was that XD He can't climb trees or wield any weapon except a reaper scythe and that's because the avatar does the melee part. He PROBABLY fell off Fanow a few times. Also the ladies of Fanow were thrilled to see him, so he had to then flee them as well once he realised staying any longer might get him marriage proposals he was too gay to accept. Absolutely miserable state of affairs.

Everything we learned about what it must be like growing up a m viera horrified and amused me so Galvin is basically my feelings about that manifested in a soggy lad who is rebelling against everything that's supposedly cool about those nice guys from the concept art being all manly and outdoorsy. Sometimes being a gender rebel is just going "uuuuuugh" and sitting down at the first sign of exertion.

[hopeandjoy9]

You know how I shared my ikesoren playlist forever ago? I thought I'd share my FFXIV playlist now though it's audience is, uh, just me.

Some background: some songs are for generic WoL, but my specific WoLs are a female Au Ra named Yukiko Shirogane and a male Viera named Freyr Cyfddydd. They are both reincarnations of Azem, as Freyr almost died when he was born, splitting his soul in two. Their relationship is ultimately that of "like brother and sister".

Main ship in the playlist is Freyr/G'raha (so, m!WoL/G'raha), Freyr/Haurchefant, and also some scattered Hythades references. The playlist order is roughly chroniclogical.

Adult Children - Kanzaki Iori (Freyr's backstory)

I wanted to be the same, too; I wanted to be born into a loving family We'd laugh together, say "It's great to be alive." Let this unchanging day end. Let this day where I can't change end.

2. Dernie Traveler’s Diary - PIPPO (all WoLs)

If I can simply go on like this, singing to myself, to keep myself smiling, then it’s all good, even if I can’t touch anyone else. As long as I can still see their hearts, I’m happy simply singing to myself, smiling, even if no one can feel me here.

3. Wonderland and the Sheep's Song - Hachi (all WoLs)

In the rain shelter of the candy shop, I awaited God's return So, shall we sing? The sheep's song! With that lantern in your hands, Illuminate everything, so like the sun...

4. Chignon Solider - seeeeecun (Freyr during ARR climax, with flashbacks to the fall of Dalmasca)

“Raise the flag of retaliation!” I cried. I’ve become an adult just so that, to the lives of humans, I can… That is your “atonement” to your mother. I will simply never stop believing that.

5. Flamingo - Kenshi Yonezu (ARR G'raha -> Freyr)

You're a fla-fla-fla-flamingo, A dazzling fla-fla-fla-flamingo You dance away, stumbling and laughing, never to return Only loneliness and jealousy remain Thanks for your business - treat me better next time...

6. Vampire - DECO*27 (Freyr -> Haurchefant)

You’re a vampire too It’s OK if you suck me up, go ahead “I can’t take it anymore” I want you to make me say it too I could never do it with anybody else, let me praise you

7. Cactus and Mirage - Jakkan-P (Freyr -> Haurchefant)

You're a mirage, Like some impossible dream, Lying on a desert bed, And when the sun goes down, You're gone, you're gone, you're gone, you're gone, you're gone, Gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone

8. BugLug - seeeeecun (Fray -> all WoL)

Yes, yes, in that case, I’ll do it, so cease your grumbling. The child cries gratingly. The ultimate of love and hate concentrate from a slovenly direction onto a single point. A man-to-man portrait of the dead in a bug-manipulating ending summer.

9. Kimi no Taion - Kuwagata-P (Freyr -> Haurchefant)

Flowers wither and the moon wanes Another season passes That you were here, feeling and touching you fades away as if nothing was there

10. Strangers - Heavenz (Yukiko -> Freyr)

"There was someone, there was someone..." I must have clung to that phrase. The enveloping sounds are just noise, and through it I can't pick out anything But you, you were still there, weren't you. That is to say, we are like lost children but we are not all alone.

11. Brainwashing - Neru (Yukiko & Freyr)

If you follow the tracks of tears on my cheeks At the end of them, Abandoned and starved, My dreams have frozen

12. Namida - MARETU (StB Fray)

The flowing blood and tears, tears dye you darker and darker. Take out your blades, your blades. It hasn't stopped beating yet, right? Your heart.

13. Ideals and Wars - Inumaru Shibaigoya (8th Umbral Calamity!G'raha -> all WoLs)

Even though your shadow is already gone, your noble ideal, determination, and views will keep in living within me. I shall be the one to fight this time. If I have fought until the moment I reach the end of my days, pray let me tread on your shadow, my God.

14. Six Feet Under - Aqu3ra (Ardbert)

Give back the time I lost Who was it that got in the way? It feels as though I’ve forgotten both what I liked and what I hated The goddess smiled as if making a bargain It seems she won’t wait for the proper timing

15. Red Tears - nekobolo (Crystal Exarch -> Freyr)

I'm sorry, for building a wall around me. I'm sorry, for being a coward. I love you, it's true. But I can't open the door to my heart.

16. Toosenbo - wowaka (Crystal Exarch -> Freyr)

I won't let you through. I'm the only one playing hide-and-seek. It's an innocent spoiled child's dream, "Please keep your eyes off me. Please let go of me. Smile with your innocent eyes!"

16. Android Girl - DECO*27 (Freyr -> Crystal Exarch)

Android girl, I’m out of my mind. I know you’re mine and mine alone, but “who” are you anyway? Even though I’d had faith in us the whole time, the whole time...

17. Ars - Sekikomi Gohan (Crystal Exarch -> Freyr)

I, who fantasizes over an optimistic view of life, will stay lonely In my final moments, I put everything about the reason I lived in this lethargic smile that will never reach you

18. Dramaturgy - Eve (Emet-Selch)

I can’t escape from this box. I came to that sad realization and wanted to escape. We were all playing our parts, Making our way towards the credits.

19. Tiara - Sekikomi Gohan (Emet-Selch -> Hythlodaeus)

My oath to love you forever and to share the pain together Alone, I proclaim it under the waning moon Shining Tiara, here is proof of my pure love

20. Two Breaths Walking - DECO*27 (Crystal Exarch & Freyr)

The front foot I’d half-put out to come over and embrace you Has somehow started to hurt you The words I just learned become a knife that pierces through you Tearing your life to pieces

21. Eine Kleine - Kenshi Yonezu (G'raha -> Freyr)

To have everlasting sorrows and open seams, but also you; How happy I would be to smile and say, "It was for the best"... Everything before me seems to blur and dissolve; A flood of miracles wouldn't be enough... Because you called my name... Is it all right if I call your name?

22. The Defeated Boy - Kemu (Crystal Exarch/G'raha)

After struggling and running, I had somehow ended up standing where I am I'd wanted to become someone that everyone would admire, a hero - but I couldn't

23. My Name is Love Song - Neru (G'raha & Freyr) (translation)

Please don’t treat me so nicely; the wounds at the depths of my heart will open up If you do that, I’ll end up by your side for life While singing “please don’t treat me so nicely,” I ended up forgetting my own name Now, we’ll call out our names with the same voice, waiting for someone to come

24. Pierce the Clear Blue Sky - Kasamura Tota (Freyr -> G'raha)

You dumbass, you don’t have the right to go and die You’ve got to be happy, it’s your job to stay by my side forever So let me take on those pains that won’t ever leave you alone If you go off somewhere without me, I’ll never, ever forgive you

25. Cynicarealism - TaKU.K (Venat -> Emet-Selch)

At long last, you’re smiling, I see. But even if your lid’s a bit loose, who could blame you? Your heart is unsullied. The morning star appeared in the sky today. What a beautiful picture it makes. I could almost forget about even the deplorable Avici hell. Alas, if only he had survived, the world may have been sullied, but the two of you could have swindled the world, escaped it, and arrived at——

26. Teo - omoi (Yukiko & Freyr -> Meteion)

Not a single one left behind We'll reclaim every last piece, that's all Until the magic wears off - until then, Hold on tight to my hand, my hand My hand!

[azybluee]

"Its been a long journey, hasn't it?"

I've been thinking of my main WoL's Azem for awhile, just haven't gotten around to creating their look cuz I just didn't want to make a new character just for Azem. Thank goodness for m*ds, huh?

Nameless Azem for now because... I can't think of a suitable name for them. Height is roughly around 165cm! Third picture didn't do their difference justice aaaa I'm sorry about that 😭

Azem's looks aren't final (I only made a rough look of how I view Kikyo's Azem) – there will be changes to their look in future gposing.

[starsasunder]

DOSSIER: The Starweaver, Astraea

Still heavily under construction; thank you for your patience !

GENERAL INFORMATION

NAME: Astraea NICKNAMES: Astraea, Aster, Stardust TITLES: Azem, The Traveler PRONOUNS: she/they SEXUALITY: demiromantic, demisexual, polyamorous (verse-dependent) DOB: spring equinox CHILDHOOD HOME: Tyre, a city located on the coast. OCCUPATION: Student/Researcher at the Akaedemiya, Azem (verse-dependent). RESIDENCE: Apartment in Amaurot SPECIALTIES: Celestial studies, magics.

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RELATIONS:

MOTHER: Pythia, formerly of the seat of Lahabrea. FATHER: Oleander, a member of the Words of Halmarut.

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ABILITIES: volatile creation magicks, innate clairvoyance / foresight.

CLASSES: A mixture of what citizens of modern etheirys would call black magic and astrology. MAGIC: Her magic is celestial-aspected, and focuses on channeling the energies of stellar creation and destruction. She is far more well-versed in the arts of destruction and summoning than she is in the arts of healing, though she can patch someone up in a pinch.

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APPEARANCE:

HAIR COLOR: Silver with dark undertones. HAIR LENGTH: Waist-length. HAIR STYLE: long and curly, with bangs across her forehead. EYE COLOR: Silver EYE SHAPE: Hooded eyes, rounded. WEIGHT: 120lbs soaking wet. HEIGHT: About 5'4", in modern measurements. BUILD: Thin and lithe, but full-chested. She has always been sickly, so she has just enough muscle-mass to facilitate travel by foot where she must. SCARS: None, as she allows healers to erase them when she receives healing. Her mother insists that her skin remain unblemished. TATTOOS: N/A. NOTICEABLE: Freckles all over her body. The freckles on her cheeks are a lighter shade, like stars smattered across her cheeks. This trait passes on to those sundered reincarnations who are most similar to her.

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PERSONALITY:

"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream."

Much like Inanna, Astraea is soft-spoken by nature. Her parents were proponents of 'children should be seen, not heard,' and it took a long while for her to break free from that mold. As Azem, she has an uncanny ability to disappear into crowds, and often walks among the populace without ever revealing her true identity. According to her, it is far easier to perform her duties without others fawning over her. Thus, she rarely wears her red Convocation mask (a habit which vexes certain colleagues).

Her parentage and gifts are a closely-held secret, one which she does not divulge even to close colleagues and friends. She has no control over her visions. They come upon her suddenly, with little regard to time, place, or circumstance, and can be a great danger to her in battle. This, combined with her physical frailty, means she often calls upon her friends for aide. Thus, those who are closest to her have some understanding of her abilities, even if she does not openly or willingly discuss it with them. This can be a point of contention between her and those closest to her, as she obstinately refuses to share her burdens unless otherwise forced.

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BACKSTORY:

From the very beginning, her parents had high expectations for her. Her mother's bloodline was known for its powerful gift of foresight, and her father's for its deep magical wellspring. Though Pythia and Oleander did hold genuine affection for each other, they chose to marry because they wanted to combine the potential of their two bloodlines. From their union came one child - Astraea: a sickly, small thing whose timid nature was nothing like their own.

Though Astraea's health was a disappointment, her power was not. Pythia soon chose to vacate her seat on the Convocation in order to focus on her child, citing that her mind was too preoccupied on personal matters to meet the needs of the star. Astraea received the full focus of her mother's attentions - all her love, all her hopes and desires for the future, and all of her expectations. Much of her childhood was spent in a sickbed, though even then she was not allowed to rest. Each day was filled with the study of creation magicks, the heavens, the world they lived in, and the strengthening of her understanding of Etheirys's complex political landscape and peoples. In Astraea, Pythia saw her perfect successor, and she was determined to overcome the limitations of Astraea's health.

Astraea inherited the gifts of her maternal line, exactly as Pythia had always hoped. Pythia's power of clairvoyance had served her well as Lahabrea. She could peer into the past with clarity, given a physical focus, and had a limited ability to peer into the future of others given that she was allowed physical contact with them. Her family had long sought after a successor whose gift would allow them to overcome the physical limitations of their gifts.

They found their long-sought-after successor in Astraea. Her gifts shone bright, allowing her to peer with gaze unclouded into the future. She had no need for foci, and could peer far into the future, a talent which had heretofore been near-unheard of. But her gifts were also far more volatile than her mother's. She had no control over the ability. Its targets were completely random - usually people in her vicinity, though not always - and she had no way of knowing when the event that she saw would take place or even if it would. Her gifts allowed her to peer into potential futures, and its seemingly random nature was a source of endless frustration for Pythia.

Vexed by her daughter's seemingly uncontrollable gift, Pythia eventually decided to focus on her magical gifts. The pairing with her father had been successful in one other aspect - Astraea had inherited the deep magical wellspring that Oleander's bloodline had long prided themselves on. Pythia pushed Astraea hard, and gave her little time to enjoy being a child. By the time the girl was of adolescent age, she had advanced to the point where her mother's specialized talents had little else to teach her.

Astraea eventually found freedom in her education. Once she outgrew her mother's tutelage, she was at last allowed out into the world to attend university at the Akaedemiya. She had visited a handful of times before, always sticking close to her father's shadow, but as a student she was finally allowed to flourish on her own. Choosing to do everything she could to put her mother's influence behind her, she threw herself into her studies and her akadaemiya career. She joined student organizations, volunteered, and found work in several different departments. But nothing seemed to suit her in particular, and nothing seemed to stick. And though she enjoyed more freedoms than she ever had at home, Astraea knew she still had not escaped her mother's expectations and her father's watchful eye.

That was the case, at least, until she met Azem. Venat took to Astraea immediately, recognizing in her a kindred spirit, if she just had the freedom to wander as she wanted. Taking the young scholar under her wing, she inducted her into the Words of Azem, and promptly took her as a traveling companion. Astraea spent many years at Venat's side, doing everything she could to assist the Traveler with her work. Though far too soon for Astraea's liking, eventually Venat decided to step down and appoint Astraea her successor.

[stxrmnight]

Thanathos

An Azem based on F and M Midlander models: different from Nemi in eye colors and shape, facial structure, hair and skin tone, but closer in chin and lips. I saw this hair design contest entry and felt it fitted the base idea perfectly, so I traced over and finalized this lingering concept.

Her odd eyes and hair style of organized ruffle reflect a divide in his behavior and interests in regards to society and herself.

Their Apartment is a studio where they keep and organize the landscaping artworks made in their travels, though the painting here is clearly nothing like that. In fact, it caused great scandal and upheaval before Thanatos left the convocation and disappeared from Amaurot without a trace. Just what was in his mind?

Here is how Azem and WoL Compare in stats

(cw for person restraining with bindings under the cut, but no more than that)

He's that person who speaks little and seems very calm and collected, but has a wild imagination and proposals that make her fit for the Azem role. Their honest talk can be disconcerting from how direct with verbose language it is, but his scant words are always earnest. He is perceived as observant but closed off in hyperfocus.

She seeked the seat of Azem to paint as much different landscapes as she could find, specially with the new tints brought by the dance of the moon and the sun. His expositions upon return to Amaurot enchant the people, making her respect despite eccentricities. He feels there is something missing in his paintings that makes them not as evocative of what he felt exploring.

Despite his great skill for art, his passion is definitely recent. He only took on the practice when, passing the Amaurot equivalent of college after a failed rivalry with Hythlodaeus in the matter building principles track. His aethersight is much weaker so, hard leg to jog. Despite this, she accepted an invitation to a painting demo by the current seat of Altima. She found her calling in this visit, and was surprised by a gift of Hythlo of many materials that he forced Hades to help him select. Hythlo would tease "he finally saw a good smile beyond that stone carved stoicness of hers, and she's ought to carve it brighter." He chuckled at this and became a bigger frequency in their circle, specially asking their aid for scouring archives of past landscapes of the Earth. Despite this, both men feel is Thanatos not completely open about her inner world nor seeking of direct connections with people. Or maybe he is really that passion driven? This gap in perception made Emet crestfallen when Nemi, the "familiar," punched him and berated him during the Lykaeon matter. He wondered if this is what Thanatos really thought of this personality...

In the matter of concepts, Thanatos has a complicated history: she found early on her attempts at organic living things were a major disaster due to anxiety in the physical creation stage. The only thing he ever managed were non offensive mendellii orchids. To "graduate" as a society member, he made different kinds of glass materials and layouts of decorative stairs and big vases for huge plants terrariums, which still veers close to composition of spaces..

But in his travels as Azem, she finds a creature bleeding from the back. To save it, she closes the wound and molds wings thinking of Halmarut's wing in the akadaemia. And so, he accidentally makes the first Griffin named Griepas, which stays at his side even when he tries to depart in Amaurot. He makes a secret space for it before finally justifying its existence to the Bureau without having it sent to Elpis: it was an accident of compassion, not an attempt to break the balance. He would personally keep the creature under his control and safe.

For the "Grapes" incident, she trapped the volcanic aether in a fictional plane, painting and moving the paint up in the air until it cools vertically... Leaving a wall of lava the locals take as a promise of protection.

In his travels as Azem, he developed canvas as supplies fitting for plein air painting, both in normal extreme conditions. She would frequently submit concepts for review long after she's already made and used them in paintings submitted to the gallery. No one saw the point when most could make concepts from thin air, but none of those matched the volume and play in colors of Thanatos' works. He did devise shortcuts for his work though: layering add and erase on physical canvas, just like layers of a digital art program.

From a young age, he's an all rounder. His abilities ring to weapons and abilities akin to a Sage, Red Mage and Warrior. He was not a fan of sparring though, and left fighting was a last resort in all his travels as Azem. He still mastered his styles under Venat's mentorship though he didn't like sparring with people. Her connection to her was majorly professional, but he seemed content with her dynamic insights on connections between people and deeply respected her for the insights that deepened his artistic thinking. Venat understands his focus and, aloofness deeply enough to tell him of the truth of the future and his part to play on it.

Learning of Nemi made a drastical change on her person.

For someone to carry his same soul, but be so vivacious and strong through horrors he would never think of, punch a guy that is overlauded and capture his mentor's affections... She musthave seen so many sights he'll never get to see and paint. Everything about her is more exciting than the present world of monotone Academy and no risk taking. He realized then he liked the challenge art itself presented: you couldn't snap your finger into good texture and clear forms. Trying to magick out a mental image took enough brain power to cause organ failure...

From all this, people would realize she randomly smiles more with her head in the clouds. Musings of Nemi could her every thought. For the first time he studies how to draw people. He makes a excuse to visit Elpis and trace the places where she must have wandered, longing to open her mind and see this stiff world through her eyes.

That's when she saw the object of her obsession leaving the Gates of Pandaemonium a second time, she immediately casts sleeps on her and binds her standing in her apartment, floating with arms up and underdress of her armour on. It's like a cat putting its paw on a pigeon as it tries to struggle away, and that's how Nemi screams and struggles once she wakes up. He gestures her to compose, pushing water and Deipnon on her lips as an act of good faith. He'd clear her airways as she sneezes on it, apologizing for the roughness and circling her with remarks on the depth of her muscles and tangents of her ears. Nemi would demand to know what the fuck does she want, and she'd turn a chair and sit on it leaning on the backrest, smiling and whispering, "to know your soul no longer mine."

She would then recite how she wishes to reside and live in her soul, to see that world that is new but still the same earth with the different winds, fears and sensations born from precious mortality. Nemi would be surprised but, strangely touched Thanatos wants to get to know her, assuming there are really no sultrier intentions than a longing for ego death. She realizes Thanatos is out of her sight suddenly, and screams as several scissors seem to dig and cut at the nerves at her back. Nemi manages to back kick her in the gut and then cough blood, black spots forming in her eyes. Thanatos panics and overheals her slowly, claiming the aetherbouncer had never caused this effect in any living creature before. His magicks have actually expanded her lifespan for at least 86 years, but he won't realize this yet. First, he'll release the bindings and confess the frustrations he bears with society that led to his fixation. Nemi is actually intrigued and, surprised by this kind of struggle, observing his audience is too distant from his lived experiences: beautiful a painting might be, people who've never left the city and felt nature in its full element won't have the experience to imagine vividly. Thanatos realizes how alone he felt in this frustration, feeling different when connecting to others.

With this, Nemi would ask Thanatos what he likes to paint, in exchange for the perspective of hers he seeks. They would fall in balanced conversation, with a sudden shorter version of Nemi flanking Thanatos' side and the original asking if she still wants to feel what her soul is like. Rather than question, Thanatos nods fast and extends her hand to the apparition as requested, the trio engaging in communion crossing their lived sensations and memories. End of the experience, she tearfully asks if she could paint her. Nemi, now relaxed and in power of the situation, undresses fully and asks how topose.

Because of the Communion, Thanatos sees flashes of lived experiences on her: her weapons, her bones, the tail limbs and horns of flesh when she was a Lightwarden, the light bleeding from the present scars on her back. All these were mixed in the shape building of her form with the face obscured. Nemi just hummed in approval and motivated him to keep going before leaving, unaware Thanatos would title the work "Divine Death."

After this, Thanatos would surprisingly talk more to his colleagues and expose facts and feelings on the biomes she's visited to anyone who'll listen. This sunny growth makes the submision of Divine Death to the Akademia gallery, well... When the work is unveiled, gasps of shock and even a scream would be heard. No one painted in such dark earth colors and the form was alien to a landscaping artist. Thanatos just laughed to himself leaving the precinct, satisfied with his last works and preparing for one last travel. Only Emet would get to intercept her on her way out, demanding to know what possessed her. She would answer, "True nature and spark. I'm going to transform into the beauty and breath in synchronicity with the land. This place is too blind to my taste. Forgive me for this, but I will have to leave the Convocation. Please do your best within your coffin." Emet was left too stunned to speak, later concluding he suffered hysteria as an early effect of the Final Days.

With this, she would not be seen again, not by pursue parties or breaks into his studio in search for clues. People would be shocked to find more obscure paintings and visions of mortal suffering and cruelty, the terrifying figure of the first painting enacting punishment on some of the offending subjects. This was when rumors of the final days reached from other lands, and why search parties aimed for him in particular. Some of the paintings were leaked and feeding into the fear of the people and terror a figure like death could really exist, and be condemning them to this suffering for what reason? Was the lost Azem clairvoyant, or had his studio been Pandora's Box of horrors to become reality?

Meanwhile, he would reach a beautiful valley of flowers, the kind with the flora you only see near active volcanoes. He would eat and pace with the animals there, bereft of any contact with Blasphemies. She is too at peace, waiting for Venat to make the needed choice and sunder her into what she wishes. Even if he won't get to see it, so many incredible memories and places will etch into his soul foreve.

"Yes, split me apart and let the pieces join into my idol."

And that was the end of the last Azem. When he died, he knew he left behind a struggler that would avert the catastrophe and live happily, but he knew nothing of the chaos and dread his paintings would arise

[wickedwildsurge]

Writer's Game

Writer's Game: First Sentences

Rules: post the first sentence of your last ten fics. If you haven't written ten fics, share as many first-sentences as you have.

Tagged by @mirrordaltokki

I don't really have anyone to tag that hasn't already been tagged, so if you stumble upon this somehow and haven't been, consider yourself tagged. xD

Just going to go in order of most recently updated, because why not.

1: Even Were I Blind: FFXIV, Haurchefant/named WoL, a sort of soulmate AU semi-fix it...thing. E rating, heavy on the angst, mostly set in Shadowbringers for the moment. Updated at random and sometimes extremely long intervals.

The first time he sees her, it stops him in his tracks.

2. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Sun: FFXIV, Magnai/named WoL. M rated for now. Another ongoing fic being updated whenever the whims of fate allow. Definitely not entirely an excuse to torment Magnai.

Night falls over the Steppe, an endless expanse of star-strewn darkness settling over restless winds.

3. A Key (that could use a little turning): FFXIV, Sue-Rend/unnamed WoL. E rated. A self-indulgent one shot based entirely on the random thought of someone trying to distract the WoL during a bit of a heist.

“What is taking so long?”

4. Forever is Our Today: FFXIV, Azem/Emet-Selch. G rated. A fluffy little piece about a beach day, and my first foray into a fic exchange through a fanfic discord.

How many eons passing had it taken for wind and water to carve away the looming sea cliffs, to grind down the wall of rock into the finest of fragments?

5. Chances That Were Lost To Us Forever: FFXIV, Foulques/named WoL. E rated. I'll say it again: Foulques was done dirty by the lancer quests and he deserved better. This was my attempt to make it up to him.

It was just her fortune that the one cave she could find in the blinding storm already had an occupant.

6. A Dragon's Taste: FFXIV, Estinien/unnamed WoL. E rated. A silly idea inspired on a discord conversation that somehow turned into multiple chapters of smut.

"Ooh, what is that?"

7. Thus to Dream: FFXIV, Urianger/named WoL. M rated. A modern AU piece done for a trope challenge from a fanfic discord. Actually has a second chapter in progress, though when it will make it out of my WIP folder is anyone's guess. >_>

The wind drove the rain against the window, the sound less of a patter and more a collective thud.

8. Like Falling Stars, We Fade Away: FFXIV, Cerigg/named WoL. E rated. The Shadowbringers role quests NPCs are underappreciated. I also had an idea for a heat fic, using a different sort of heat for Au Ra that I wanted to try out. The BLM AU for my main WoL Vieryne.

Cerigg sighed heavily as he lowered his tankard to find Taynor's anxious visage at his side once more.

9. Birds of a Feather: FFXIV, Karasu/named WoL. E rated. I love this lunatic gremlin, and he was the perfect choice for Vieryne's NIN AU. Not much more needs be said, except perhaps that there's a second chapter in the works for this one as well.

“You've come far, my little chick!"

10. The Finer Points of the Craft: FFXIV, Brithael Spade/unnamed WoL. E rated. Still one of my favorite rarepairs. Just wanted to show the best crafting NPC some love...on an anvil...in the middle of the forge.

“Forgemaster?”

[thornescalling]

I saw a F!Viera warrior in an armor set that used an ARR piece as its chest. I'd never seen one used so well so I was looking at her. She saw me, and /waved at me. I sent her a tell saying I liked her outfit and had never seen that chest piece used that way before. She sent me back a thank you, and that she liked my M!Viera's name. She then sent me a friend request so now I'm in-game friends with her.

Also!

When I was going through the Dark Knight quest, there was this M!Au Ra, usually on Warrior, who would almost always be standing next to Sidurgu while he waited in a queue. I never really interacted with him, but he was a constant part of my journey through one of my favorite class stories. Eventually, I dragged a friend through the Dark Knight story, because I knew he would like it and he wanted to be a DRK for shadowbringers. There, of course, was this Au Ra, vibing with Sidurgu. I finally got the courage to send him a tell, and I told him that he was always there when I returned for my dark quests, and now was helping a friend through them. He told me how happy he was to have been a part of our journey. Later, at the start of the last Little Lady's Day, it was like 1-3 AM and the event had JUST started in Ul'dah. I saw him there, and came to hang out with him after doing the quest. Apparently he'd been in the queue for the Tower Nier raid for almost an hour with some friends. So I asked him what they still needed. I ended up queuing as healer for them and we got the pop. He's been on my friends list ever since. We give each other /dotes when we pass in the overworld.

Also!!

My wonderful friend @yxo-the-forcewalker told me my art of my Azem looked like my WoL but Not and that has been my favorite compliment I've gotten on my FFXIV art to this day because it was exactly the vibes I was going for.

I'm feeling a little rough tonight, so I want to generate some positive energy! In that spirit: Tell me about the best compliment you've ever received about your OC/a work featuring your oc? About their look, their personality, their story, their background, a fic about them, a piece of art of them, a gpose/screenshot etc. What's something that made you feel proud or just all warm and fuzzy inside?

[ofdragonsdeep]

23: Soul

A connection between Ancients ran deeper than fragile mortals could comprehend.

(AzemxElidibus, ShB spoilers I guess)

Mornings in Amaurot blossomed like a gentle gift. The faint noise of birdsong in distant trees, the shade-dappled paths, the thrum and bustle of activity, all of it held out a welcoming hand to invite the weary wanderer back home.

Hermes, holder of the Seat of Azem, had spent more of his long life within Amaurot than not, and found that he missed it on his long travels around the realm. No matter how far the wanderlust took him, nor how long the trials kept him gone, he would ever return to it. Home, in so many ways, not least of which because it held his heart.

This morning was a quiet one, as returnings went. He was given nods of acknowledgement from the civilians he passed, in recognition of the mask he wore and the rank he held, and he offered smiles and waves at them in return. His cheerful feet traced a familiar path, winding between the buildings and past the entryways where a hundred hundred souls bustled, past the view of the Convocation Hall’s spire, past the aether-crystal in its intricate metal lattice. To a little pocket of green, cocooned tenderly within the city’s gleaming walls. At the highest point, Hermes lay down upon the grass and closed his eyes.

It was not unlike his travels. It was simple, when the mind could weave aether at a thought and there was none of the Architect’s bureaucracy to stifle the creation, to shield oneself from the elements with only the most necessary of comforts. He had spent many nights beneath the stars, feeling the ground beneath him through his robes, staring up to what lay beyond them and wondering at that most unknown of vigils.

He had lain there for long enough to lose track of time when the disturbance came. The sound of robes rustling, feet upon the grass, and a familiar voice.

“Never do you tell me when you see fit to return, Azem. Any would think you do not wish me to find you.”

A smile crept onto Hermes’s face, and he opened his eyes to look at his visitor.

“As if you need long to see my aether among the others, Elidibus.”

His white robes gathered up about his legs as he sat beside his erstwhile colleague, ever unmarred by stains from the grass beneath them. A soft smile sat upon his face - never one for grand gestures, was Elidibus, giving his all to others and saving so little for himself. Of all the people that Hermes knew, he was the one he missed most keenly when duty and curiosity took him out into the world beyond. But in the same stroke, he was the one he returned for - not his duty, not his people. Just Elidibus.

“I take it that your travels were fruitful,” Elidibus said, watching as Hermes sat and shook the grass from his shoulders. His magics could have cleaned it, true, but he saw no need for it in the moment. “I hope that you do not have any sour news for the Convocation.”

“Do I ever?” Hermes replied, face cracking into a smile. “You can say it, you know. That you missed me. None will hear you admit such a shameful thing.” Elidibus sighed, shaking his head in despair at Hermes’s attitude.

“I am not ashamed. I am… It is difficult,” he said. With a roll of his shoulders, he straightened himself, composing his thoughts along with his form. “But you know me well, alas. I… I did miss you.” Hermes took his hand, elegantly gloved, and pressed a kiss against his fingers.

“Perhaps my advantage is unfair,” he allowed. There were those on the Convocation who disapproved of their relationship - not because they stood as colleagues, but because of how this Azem seemed ever to flout their rules and conventions. Such was a part of the role of Azem, he had argued - to great success in the Hall of Rhetoric, in fact, much to the dismay of his would-be rivals. Elidibus held himself with the quiet regard of someone entrusted with a role as great as his, kept himself held back, spent his every waking moment dedicated to his duty - and likely his sleeping ones, as well. His discomfort stemmed from uncertainty, Hermes thought, a need to present an image of the perfect emissary to the people. What would they think if he were to love a reactionary so deeply as he held it in the darkest parts of his heart?

“I wonder at times if it is unbecoming of me to miss you so,” Elidibus said, a perfect demonstration of his warring head and heart. “I have asked Emet-Selch to cast his eyes into the lifestream when you are gone, in case the worst were to happen and you could not come home-”

“And he called you a fool?” Hermes guessed, and Elidibus sighed.

“Yes. ‘Lovesick and pining’ were his exact descriptors.” His skin flushed red at the admittance, and he averted his gaze to stare at the grass below him, swaying softly in the gentle breeze. “Still, I am glad that you return unmolested, at least for now.”

“Would I abandon you?” Hermes returned, running the palm of his hand up Elidibus’s cheek, slipping his fingers beneath the wood of the mask. “Perhaps you would know if I did.” He could feel his companion’s aether, so bright and shining, so close…

“Perhaps I would,” Elidibus agreed, his voice quiet. One hand reached up to lie atop Hermes’s own, and Hermes smiled at him and pushed back the hood. There was comfort in conformity, and reassurance in the safety that came with not deviating from the norm. How they would tut and shudder at the Bureau of the Administrator at the idea that one with so important a role would ever eschew the trappings of their station, a splash of colour across the mask the only difference between them.

With his free hand, Hermes gently eased the mask from Elidibus’s face. He blinked with surprised eyes, his own hand reaching to touch his unadorned face.

“I missed you,” Hermes said, and leaned forward to touch Elidibus’s forehead with his own. It was a tiny, quiet glimpse into the vast aether at the core of him, suffused with love and loneliness. So intense was the feeling that Elidibus moved backwards all but subconsciously, the breath catching in his throat.

“Hermes, please,” he said, a soft admonishment in his tone. “Such conduct is unbecoming of one who holds the role of Azem.”

“Yet it is Hermes you chide,” he replied, an amused smile on his face. “I shall note that for the record, though I shall keep it from my report for the rest of the Convocation.” Elidibus, his face red with furious embarrassment, picked his mask up from where it lay on his lap and set it back around his face. If nothing else, it did match his complexion, and most fittingly if Hermes was any judge.

“I shall have to hear your full report later, then,” he said, which made Hermes raise an eyebrow. Elidibus, heedless by intent or not, retrieved Hermes’s own mask from where it lay in the grass and held it out to him, a not so subtle suggestion in his gesture. “Come. It would not do to keep the others waiting.”

“I suppose you are right,” Hermes allowed, a soft sigh on his lips as he made himself ‘presentable’. Just as Zeus so rarely put aside his role as Elidibus, so too did Hermes need to be Azem to his core, at least for the moment. But what did a few moments matter, when they had eternity?

Such things were, he supposed, not Azem’s to think upon.