#scions ensemble

[weatheredpileoftomes]

whole damn place is about to blow

Linza, gen-ish, early Heavensward, ~1100 words. Canon-typical violence, xenophobia, etc. Writing my way through msq again—I am absolutely fascinated by the way existing in Linza’s canon changes Ilberd as a character; I have been thinking about very little else for days. Some dialogue has been taken from the level 51 quest “Keeping the Flame Alive”.

——

“Give me the key,” Yugiri snaps, waving poison-green smoke away from her face as she kneels at the magitek field’s controls.

They hadn’t even given Raubahn a change of clothing, not in months. The rags he wears are still covered in his own blood. Linza’s fingertips are numb as she hands the key over; she resettles her grip on her staff and thinks of a strong, clean wind—off the distant ocean, salt-tinged and wild.

It stirs the air a little.

Carbuncle’s tail fans back and forth as Alphinaud mutters over his book. Linza coughs, and coughs again.

“You came,” Raubahn says again, a little stronger this time. He’s looking at her, not Yugiri or Alphinaud.

Linza doesn’t know what to say. Of course I did. I promised Nanamo. I promised Nanamo, and she might not be dead. She stares helplessly back at him, struck almost as silent as if she’d been bespelled again.

He goes into another fit of coughing as he tries to thank her, and then gods-damned Ilberd shows up.

Linza’s very blood is fire and lightning, here in the bowels of a cave turned bloodsands. She burns to turn them on Ilberd, even as the poison still lingers in the air.

“I have us, Linza,” Alphinaud says, and—of course. Of course, he’d been betrayed as surely as Linza was, though differently. These were his men that they’re facing. Who are still wearing the uniforms he designed, as Linza was flung bound and silenced in front of the assembled leadership of the continent wearing Ala Mhigan violet and with the embroidered griffin on her skirts spreading across the floor.

Who swore an oath to Alphinaud and Eorzea, as Ilberd had claimed that killing Nanamo and removing Raubahn and the Scions and Linza herself in one fell swoop, that leaving men like Teledji Adeledji and Lolorito in unhindered control of Ul’dah and all the refugees outside its walls, was for the good of Ala Mhigo.

Linza draws in a gasping breath and puts herself between Ilberd and Raubahn. It’s useless—he might be taller than her even kneeling—but she can’t not do it.

They’re yalms below the open sky, and even if she had the strength in conjury to bring the ceiling down on Ilberd and his jackals it wouldn’t satisfy her. But Alphinaud has them, and so she calls on destruction, on black magic, in Rhalgr’s name, and feels the lightning gather and burst from the shadowed air itself.

She’ll see them all in hell.

Fray will want to know why she didn’t call forth her sword, but the only answer Linza can give is that it’s not right, not now. Steel is all they respect in Ishgard, but this isn’t the Fury’s ground.

You should have killed him, Fray would say. You should have done it for the harm he’s done and called justice.

Fire blooms between Linza’s hands, explodes against the worn stone of the hall. Ilberd is cornered now, sweat dripping down his face and blood spattered across his uniform from Yugiri’s knives. The Braves must have taken a poison ward, but even with that Ilberd is panting for breath, his sword and shield drooping.

Why didn’t you kill him? Fray would ask. Linza can feel the thunder gathered, a storm built within her staff.

“It is over, Ilberd!” Alphinaud shouts. “Lay down your arms and surrender yourself to justice!”

Surrender?

“Justice?!” Ilberd echoes scornfully, as if anything he’s done has served justice either. Linza’s body crackles with unspent lightning, prickling in her fingers, searing as she squeezes her staff to try to ground her rage. Her ears ring with it.

When Ilberd’s voice fades back in he’s speaking to her. “You fight for whoever bloody well tells you to.”

“I fight for Ala Mhigo,” Linza says. She can feel her mouth moving; she can hear the voice whispering, too quiet to be understood. “I always have.”

“Can you not see you’re being used?!” Ilberd demands.

Linza shakes her head. He might say the Scions and the city-states had used her, but that isn’t a surprise. She’d known they were. She’d been using them in return, hoarding scraps of goodwill that had turned into feasts of it, and then he’d come in and thrown that all on the midden.

Two years of smiling, of staying quiet, of being a reliable errand girl, of doing whatever she was asked. Two years of listening as people called the refugees every name they could think of, to her face, not realizing she was one of them too, and not being able to say anything. Her whole life, growing up without ever having seen her homeland.

So what if she hadn’t suffered as long as he had? There wasn’t a price to be paid in blood or tears before someone could do something to free Ala Mhigo. Everyone should want to, whether they’d suffered or no.

“Know this,” he shouts at her. “There is nothing I would not give to take back Ala Mhigo! Nothing!”

Linza gulps air. “Including Ala Mhigans! What good is a country that’s nothing but empty dirt?” The storm is starting to blow away, unspent. She clutches her staff even tighter, as if that could keep its power there in case she changes her mind. “All of us are nothing to you! You’d entrust the refugees in Ul’dah to Lolorito and keep me from getting Alliance support for a war of liberation just so you can be the hero? Hero of what?”

Her head is spinning. She’d burned through too much aether, maybe, with the poison, with sprinting through the twisting halls of Halitali, with the choking cold of Coerthas before that.

“Pampered brat,” Ilberd spits. “You with your private meetings with the sultana of bloody Ul’dah, the praise you’ve gotten from the Flame General.” The look he flicks at Raubahn is venomous. Linza takes a step closer to Raubahn, drawing the shapes of Manaward in her mind. “This isn’t your struggle. You’ll never understand it.”

Before Linza can protest, he and his men vanish in a puff of smoke, like one of Yugiri’s shinobi tricks.

Raubahn groans, and she turns and drops to her knees beside him. He’s filthy, with new pain-carved lines on his face, but he’s alive. She did that much for Nanamo, at least.

She did that much, at least.

Even when she reaches for her staff again, settling into the healing flow of conjury, the electric fizzing under her skin doesn’t ease.

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Summoning of Scion

by Fishhfood With the limited time she had, Talia's plans could only account for so much. She counted on Father and the guards being occupied with the traitor to allow her the time she needed to get the boy into and out of the pit. She had planned a route through the compound with the least chance of encountering either regular staff members or highly trained agents. She had planned for a single man to wait at the base of the cliff, the only blind spot along the escape route. The plan seemed laughable. If someone from her team had suggested something so sudden and reliant on something as intangible as hope, especially when the outcome seemed so dire, she would have dismissed them outright. There are so many variables that haven't been accounted for, so many potential points of failure, and Talia has to fight against thinking about them as she guides Jason to the pit. What she didn't expect was what also came with him. ** Rewritten version of “trash of gotham” with De aged cale! Words: 1247, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: 백작가의 망나니가 되었다 - 유려한 | Lout of Count's Family | Trash of the Count's Family - Yulyeohan, Batman - All Media Types, Robin: Son of Batman (Comics) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: Other Characters: Bruce Wayne, Jason Todd, Stephanie Brown, Tim Drake (DCU), Barbara Gordon, On (Lout of Count's Family), Hong (Lout of Count's Family), Ron Molan, Dick Grayson, Cassandra Cain, Alfred Pennyworth, Batfamily Members (DCU), Talia al Ghul, Ra's al Ghul, White Star | Cale Barrow, Damian Wayne, Duke Thomas, Cullen Row, Harper Row, Kate Kane (DCU), Titus | Damian Wayne's Dog, Damian Wayne's Pets, Helena Wayne, Batman Ensemble, Ancient Powers (Lout of Count's Family), Lout of Count's Family Ensemble, most are mentioned - Character, Luke Fox, Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo Relationships: Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo & Everyone, Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo & Bruce Wayne, Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo & Batfamily Members, Everyone & Everyone, Talia al Ghul & Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo, Talia al Ghul & Damian Wayne, Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo & Damian Wayne Additional Tags: Badass Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo, De-aged Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo, Kid Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo, Protective Batfamily (DCU), Good Sibling Cassandra Cain, Jason Todd and Damian Wayne Meet in the League of Assassins, Jason Todd is a Batfamily Member, kinda they’re relationship is complicated, they all care for eachother, Good Parent Bruce Wayne, Bruce Wayne is Bad at Communicating, Damian Wayne is Bad at Feelings, Damian Wayne Has a Heart, Im gonna try to include ever batfamily member pls tell me if i missed one, Good Parent Talia al Ghul, She loves her kids, Not beta read we die like Jason via https://ift.tt/AmpWSRg

[toorumochi]

"𝕿𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝕯𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖞: 𝕬 𝕻𝖎𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖊’𝖘 𝕻𝖗𝖔𝖒𝖎𝖘𝖊"

A Karushuu Pirate x Prince AU

@akabane-yum if you see this, no you didn’t.

In a world where royal lineage clashes with pirate rebellion, two unlikely souls are entangled in a web of fate. As ancient feuds simmer and alliances teeter on the brink of collapse, a prince and a pirate must navigate treacherous waters of love, loyalty and longing. Bound by destiny yet torn apart by circumstance, their story unfolds amidst a backdrop of adventure, danger and forbidden desire.

In a tale as old as time, Gakushuu Asano, a scion of a royal lineage, and Karma Akabane, born into the infamous ranks of a pirate clan, found themselves locked in a generations-old feud. Initially, their animosity towards each other ran deep, both harbouring a visceral disdain that seemed insurmountable. However, fate intervened one fateful day when their paths converged at a bustling port on a remote island.

Bound by a fragile truce enforced by the island's formidable locals, the families of Gakushuu and Karma were compelled to set aside their longstanding grievances. The imminent threat of the islanders' prowess in combat loomed large, serving as a deterrent against any acts of aggression between the warring factions.

It was amidst this uneasy peace that Gakushuu's perception of Karma underwent a profound transformation. Observing the pirate's striking resemblance to his father, the prince found himself inexplicably drawn to Karma's rugged charm and rebellious spirit. There was an undeniable allure to Karma's rough-edged exterior—a magnetism that stirred within Gakushuu an unexpected and tumultuous attraction. 

Karma Akabane, the son of the most powerful pirate captain known to roam the seven seas, at the mere age of 19, embodies the definitive pirate aesthetic with the weather-beaten tricorn hat, tilted daringly to one side, and decorated with a crimson feather. His once-pristine white shirt, now bearing the marks of countless battles, is adorned with faded embroidery and ragged sleeves, while a leather vest, weathered and worn, boasts brass buttons etched with intricate sea monster designs.

Burgundy trousers, rolled up at the cuffs, and a midnight-coloured coat with gleaming gold trim complete his ensemble. Multiple belts and sashes cinch his waist, each laden with pouches containing the tools and treasures of a true pirate, while beaded necklaces strung with seashells, pearls, and ancient coins adorn his neck. His fingers glitter with rings bearing emblems and gemstones, a symbol of his status and prowess.

Karma's bronzed, weathered skin, long crimson red hair cascading like molten gold, kohl-smudged eyes gleaming with mischief, and a grin revealing teeth as sharp as cutlasses, speak of a life lived on the edge of danger and adventure, with scars as souvenirs of battles fought and won, displaying strength and tenacity in the face of trouble.

As Gakushuu watches, he sees Karma's father laughing with him, playfully taking back the tricorn hat he had placed on Karma's head, revealing beneath it a bandana, a symbol of their legacy of piracy that runs deep within their bloodline.

 

One morning, Gakushuu spotted Karma snatching a handful of fruits from a stall before darting out of sight behind the nearby booths. He decided to follow him up until he couldn’t see him anymore. The streets were crowded so it was hard to see.

Suddenly someone grabbed him by the arm, pulling him somewhere. Gakushuu was ready to fight back, but the person put their hand on his mouth to keep him quiet.

It was Karma, who was calmly grinning and eating the stolen apple with one hand and with the other, he held Gakushuu in place. 

As Gakushuu's eyes widened in surprise, Karma's mischievous grin only grew wider. The two boys stood in a hidden alleyway, away from the bustling streets of the port. Gakushuu's heart raced, unsure of what Karma had planned.

"Shh," Karma whispered, removing his hand from Gakushuu's mouth. "I just wanted to make sure you wouldn't cause any trouble for our families. The locals here are no joke, and I don't want to risk any fights breaking out."

Gakushuu's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Why would you care about that? We've always been enemies, haven't we?"

Karma chuckled, taking another bite of the stolen apple. "Yeah, we have. But that doesn't mean I want to see you get hurt. Besides, it's more fun to mess with you when we're not fighting."

Gakushuu's cheeks flushed slightly at Karma's words, a mix of annoyance and intrigue swirling within him. He couldn't deny that something was captivating about the pirate's carefree attitude and rebellious nature.

"I don't need your protection," Gakushuu retorted, crossing his arms defiantly. "I can handle myself just fine."

Karma raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. "Oh, I know you can. But that doesn't mean I can't lend a hand now and then. Plus, it's not like I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart. I just don't want any interruptions when I finally defeat you."

Gakushuu's lips curled into a smirk, a challenge gleaming in his eyes. "Defeat me? We'll see about that, pirate."

Karma's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I look forward to it, prince."

He released Gakushuu, who felt a subtle stirring of arousal, though he adamantly refused to acknowledge it.

Despite their families' long-standing feud, there was an undeniable spark between them. It was a connection that neither of them could fully understand, but one that seemed to draw them together despite the odds stacked against them.

As the days passed on the bustling island port, Gakushuu was unable to shake the memory of his encounter with Karma in the hidden alleyway. There was something about the pirate boy that intrigued him, something that stirred emotions within him that he had never experienced before.

Meanwhile, Karma couldn't seem to get Gakushuu out of his mind either. The image of the prince's defiant smirk and challenging gaze lingered in his thoughts, igniting a fire within him that he couldn't extinguish.

It was on one fateful evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, that their paths crossed once again.

Gakushuu was wandering the crowded streets of the port, lost in thought as he pondered the events of the past few days.

He had tried to push thoughts of Karma from his mind, to focus on his duties as a prince and the expectations placed upon him by his family, but the boy seemed to haunt his every waking moment.

Suddenly, he caught sight of a familiar figure up ahead, his heart skipping a beat as he realized who it was. Karma was once again standing at the edge of the bustling marketplace, his eyes scanning the crowd with a mischievous glint.

Without hesitation, Gakushuu made his way towards him, his footsteps quickening with each step. He wasn't sure what compelled him to seek out Karma, to seek out the very person who was supposed to be his enemy, but he couldn't deny the pull that drew him to the pirate boy like a magnet.

As he drew closer, Karma turned and spotted him, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Well, look who decided to grace me with their presence," he said, his voice laced with amusement.

Gakushuu rolled his eyes, trying to mask the fluttering feeling in his chest with a look of indifference. "Don't get too excited, pirate. I'm only here to make sure you're not causing any trouble, once again."

Karma chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest as he regarded Gakushuu with a playful glint in his eyes. "Ah, but where's the fun in that? Besides, I thought we already established that I’m up to nothing strange."

Gakushuu bristled at Karma's words, a surge of irritation coursing through him. "That doesn't mean I have to stand by and watch as you wreak havoc on this island."

Karma raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, so now you're concerned about the well-being of this island? How noble of you, prince."

Gakushuu scowled, his cheeks flushing with anger. "I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it for the people who call this place home, people who deserve better than to be caught in the crossfire of our family's feud."

For a moment, there was a flicker of something in Karma's eyes, a hint of vulnerability that took Gakushuu by surprise. But before he could dwell on it further, the moment passed and Karma's usual smirk returned, his mask firmly back in place.

"Well, aren't you just full of surprises, prince," Karma said, his tone teasing. "But enough talk. How about we make a deal? You let me go about my business, and I promise not to cause any trouble for your 'precious island'."

Gakushuu hesitated, torn between his duty as a prince and the strange connection he felt with Karma. In the end, curiosity won out, and he found himself nodding in agreement. 

"Fine," he said, his voice firm. "But don't think for a second that I'm letting my guard down around you, pirate. I'll be keeping a close eye on you."

Karma grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I wouldn't expect anything less, prince. After all, where's the fun in a little competition without a bit of tension?"

With that, he turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Gakushuu standing alone in the bustling marketplace. As he watched Karma go, a strange mixture of emotions washed over him, leaving him feeling both exhilarated and unnerved.

Amidst the longstanding rivalry between their families, their fathers found themselves ensconced in a local bar, their laughter and camaraderie echoing into the early hours of dusk. 

Gakushuu observed Karma from across the room, perched in a secluded corner, thoroughly entertained by the adoration of the town's girls. His charm was palpable, he even gifted one of his penknifes to one of the girls.

Gakushuu couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy—not for the girls themselves, but for Karma.

Meanwhile, amidst the joviality of the bar, a young sailor approached Gakushuu's table, his intent clear as he sought an opportunity to secure a position aboard Captain Asano's esteemed ship. Such a feat was no easy task, as the entire port was aware of the formidable challenge it presented.

Despite the sailor's persistent flattery, Gakushuu's attention wandered, inevitably drawn back to Karma's table. Their gazes met fleetingly before being interrupted by the sudden clamour of the girls surrounding Karma. With infectious laughter and playful tugs, they whisked him away towards a concealed doorway, leaving Gakushuu momentarily captivated by the sight.

As Karma disappeared into the throng of giggling girls, he threw a small wink in Gakushuu's direction—a gesture that sent a flurry of emotions coursing through him. Confusion mingled with excitement as Gakushuu grappled with the unfamiliar sensations stirring within him, unsure of what lay ahead in this unexpected entanglement with the enigmatic pirate.


As the night wore on, Gakushuu found himself unable to shake the image of Karma's mischievous grin and captivating presence. He couldn't understand why he was so drawn to someone from the enemy camp, someone who had caused him so much frustration and anger in the past.

Unable to resist the pull any longer, Gakushuu excused himself from the sailor and made his way towards the door Karma had disappeared behind. He pushed it open cautiously, unsure of what he would find on the other side.

—————————————————————————

You can continue reading the rest of this fanfic on my AO3 if you're interested!

[newx-menfan]

The MOST DIFFICULT QUESTION I WILL EVER ASK…

(Personally my fav is his “baseball outfit” or “Hollister” look….but what do I know…

[arbitrarygreay]

Simoun and MFS character comparison

Shout outs to @notonthisplanet for being the only other person who understands this crossover

There actually isn't very much of a one-to-one comparison between the ensembles of the two shows, which I honestly like. It's like one is a remix of the other. Everyone shares some traits and differs on others.

For one thing, the relationship between religion and the military is much more different, with the former taking precedence over the latter at the beginning of Simoun. The Sibylla priestesses only became vanguard soldiers because their uncontested firepower incentivized it when war broke out, not because they were as such in times of peace. On the other hand, this might be from an unreliable narrator place (young people with no institutional memory), as others said that Kyoukoku has been invaded countless times in the past, and no doubt that Simoun were deployed then, too. But that still speaks to a difference in the way the young of Simoun are propagandized to, compared to MFS, where the military part is pushed more than the pagan part.

Aaeru: Someone who volunteered for the front line and is gung-ho about being a soldier, like Tally. However, she's very much not an idealist or religious, shocking the Sibylla with how practically she treats war as a no-glory thing (more like Raelle). Aaeru is also pretty innocent when it comes to social dynamics and relationships (which doesn't map to anyone in MFS), despite coming from a fairly well-regarded lineage with her Chor Dextra grandparent. And, relevant to M, Aaeru wants to stay in the military in order to avoid choosing a gender.

Neviril: In an AU, she would be a Bellweather, as the shining scion from a prestigious government family, devoutly leading her Chor. But, Neviril is nothing like Abigail, as she is continually questioning why she should fight at all. There's not really a good MFS match for Amuria, either.

Paraietta is arguably closer to Abigail or Libba, also a leader who probably comes from a well off family, also struggling with getting torn out of her comfort zone by the realities of war. However, Paraietta as a character is defined by her one-sided pining, which was not something MFS was interested in.

Kaimu and Alti: lol. lmao, even. (They'd be High-Atlantics, though.)

Floe: Would be a High Atlantic, but otherwise, as my first post indicated is much like Tally. She's the Cordelia Chase of the show, taking no shit from anyone, not afraid to call everyone out, but is openly caring and empathetic. She also crushes on a boy for her focus episode, like Tally. Not to mention how she confidently strides into her future as Floef with so much swag. Her dynamic with Aaeru could potentially be compared to Tally/Raelle.

Rodoraemon: Extreeeeemely High Atlantic, but doesn't strut about it. Her storyline, of course, is mostly wrapped up in--

Mamiina: Comparable to Raelle and Scylla, as characters from a lower class background. Also comparable to Scylla as an outsider who is integrated into the group later. However, Mamiina's family ended up working for Rodoraemon's (rather than staying in the countryside), leading to their tragic class clash backstory. Mamiina's big thing is that she voluntarily joined the Sibylla as an avenue of climbing the ladder, which is obviously not a dynamic relevant to conscription-based MFS. And while she was pushed on Neviril as a suitor like the Imperatrix was pushing suitors on Abigail, Mamiina was gung-ho about that plan for aforementioned climbing the ladder reasons, unlike Gregorio.

Yun: Also an outsider, but actually known to be from the countryside (as she shares some unique cultural practices from her region with the others). An asshole (affectionate). Begins the show with a bit of a "die in battle" death wish like Raelle, but attaches a little more ideals to hers than Raelle (to die as a way to honor her fallen comrades). Those blondes, eh. And while she is an asshole, she never ducks out on training like Raelle did. Given her final arc trajectory, can also be compared to Tally's S2 journey, of replacing her world's immortal figure after coming to understand them intimately.

Rimone: Child prodigy like Khalida, though with no leadership experience, and comes into the show pretty naive about conflict. Her arc in Simoun is really more like a sports anime case, of the rising star rookie with the yips. She just wants to perform her craft as beautifully as she can, to push it as far as it can go, which might map more to, um, Izadora. And the closest thing MFS to that Rimone/Aaeru dynamic might be Tiffany/Scylla. (Honestly, Dominura/Rimone isn't much like Talder at all in terms of their relationship dynamic. One might even argue that a Dominura/Rimone Very Bad End would be more like Alder/Nicte.)

Dominura: Obviously can be compared to Alder for extremely spoilery reasons, but in the present, is more akin to Anacostia and M, as people in that age range between "new recruit" and "senior officer", who have the protagonists under their wing for a while. Unlike Anacostia and M, though, Dominura was pretty shit at being a mentor or leader lmao. Ironically, in that sense, Dominura's trajectory could be compared to Khalida, as a leader who came in desperately trying to compensate for her own uncertainty with an aggressive public attitude, who had to adjust her beliefs over time to better serve the ones she loved.

Morinas: An outsider without a pedigree who joined the Chor to give herself more time to figure herself out, which obviously doesn't map much to anyone in MFS. But I've written about how the execution of Morinas's arc in the show was probably the least effective of all of the Tempest crew.

Wapourif: Closest to Anacostia, as an older character who supported the protagonists, and previously had unquestioning belief in the system, but over the course of the show had to struggle those beliefs getting torn apart.

Can't really say that Anubituf/Guragief/Wauf map well to the senior officers of MFS (e.g. Petra, Clary, Verger) except as adult senior officer figures.

[johnnylandslide]

Seeing as Johnny's married to the Scions' very own master seamstress I'm curious what his answers for 27 and 46 would be for the OC armour and clothing questions

Bonus question if you feel up to answering it: does being married to Tataru change his outlook on fashion in any way?

Thanks for the ask! Johnny being married to Tataru means I've definitely thought a lot about how clothing specifically factors into their relationship.

For social situations, Johnny does own a couple formal outfits. His favorite is the white Scion Adventurer suit, for several reasons. Firstly, it was the first piece of clothing Tataru made for him, and was an unexpected yet greatly appreciated gift. Secondly, with the way it matched the outfits of the other Scions, putting it on marked the moment he truly felt like a full member of the group. Thirdly, Tataru designed it to be easy to move around and fight in, despite its formal appearance. A true best of both worlds.

As for what he'd wear if he wanted to make a splash... Johnny doesn't usually want to make a splash. However, if Tataru wanted to make a splash, she'd probably put him in this blue suit she made for a trip to Ishgard.

For #46, since I already hit the obvious answer in my reply to Mimble, I'll cover the opposite instead! Something Tataru doesn't spend any time scheming to get Johnny to wear is sexier outfits. While she might have the occasional fun daydream about her husband wearing something more revealing, at the end of the day she just doesn't want to share LOL.

And for the bonus question: Absolutely! From someone whose usual outfit used to be a pair of bright red pants paired with a sweater as brown as the dirt of the Twelveswood, he's come leaps and bounds. All of his best-looking ensembles can still be credited to his wife, but he's picked up enough following along that he's not hopeless without her.

[mr-snailman]

hmmmm I wanna draw the entire dogma ensemble with the last scion SO BAD… serendipity finger-painting with her… rufus telling her stories about her great-great-great-great-great-too-many-greats-uncle… the metatron letting her ride on his shoulders even if she is gumming on his wings a little… bartleby panicking and holding her at arms length while she cries and bethany telling him he’s doing it wrong… loki cradling her in his arms and getting her to sleep easy as anything… jay + bob pushing her stroller and bob smacking a cigarette out of jay’s hand… her name is sophia btw

[tanoraqui]

Hello! For the WIP ask: Salt Liquor (Girl Genius) please?

Salt Liquor! Salt Liquor was a collaboration between myself and the late great (on tumblr; they're still alive and fandom-active) ConstanceComment. Salt Liquor is quite genuinely possibly the best fic I will never write. It had THEMES. It had POLYAMORY. It had POLICE BRUTALITY vs UNIONS vs PROFESSIONAL POLITICAL PLAYERS/TOURIST-SCAMMERS, and all of the above were affiliated with SPEAKEASIES and MOBS.

Salt Liquor is/was a Girl Genius au set in Prohibition Era Atlantic City, New Jersey. OT3 endgame, Gil-centric, ensemble cast, outline of...19 chapters + epilogue? But realistically would've ended up more.

Agatha is the new-in-town farmgirl who is (fully known to her) the lost heiress to the local Romanian Mob (not really historical), here to get the old gang back together and establish herself as the new local power, starting with refurbishing and reopening The Castle, the old Heterodyne club and bar-now-speakeasy.

Tarvek is the slightly-less-new-in-town scion of the Irish Catholic family so deeply enmeshed in Tammany Hall (very much historical) that they may as well be its royalty, here to (per Martellus's plans) fail or (per his plans) succeed beyond anybody's expectations in setting himself up as the new local power, starting with newly opened hotel-casino (speakeasy down below) Stormbreak Hotel.

Gil is the son of the Chief of Police - though his mother is some sort of crime boss in Mexico and these days his twin sister smuggles liquor (and does some light piracy) with their former babysitter. (Klaus would hire Bang to escort them on the train to visit Zanta, when he was too busy to make the trip himself. Gil and Zeetha were accomplices in a lot of crime, growing up.)

At the start, Gil knows Tarvek is a crook and Tarvek knows Gil used to do crime, but neither of them know who Agatha is yet...though Tarvek figures it out much faster. The jägers are present, of course. The Muses are present as Tarvek's core staff of extremely competent, socially underprivileged women whom Tarvek has been hiring as he finds them since the age of like 12. There is an organ trafficking case which turns into a human trafficking case, the mastermind of which is (spoilers) Lucrezia. The climax involves chasing her and kidnapped!Klaus on boats in a rare New Jersey hurricane.

The writing style would've been inspired by hardboiled detective novels - with two amores fatales, obviously.

We have a reasonably detailed outline, about 1.5 chapters of written fic, a (discord? tumblr? facebook?) chat saved into a 119-page document, and 23 pages of "Extra Bits because I Give Up" that are mostly stray scenes of OT3 set after the end of hte fic, including, god bless our nerdy asses, the reaction to the stock market crash of 1929.

It's never gonna get written because I'm pretty sure neither of us wants to do the historical research required to make it really good, and neither of us can tolerate it not being really good.

[firstelevens]

fake fic title game!! “this crown ain’t worth much” for whatever pairing/fandom you like! ✨

When The Royal first landed on TV screens, it wasn't supposed to be a hit. The network had aired it as a mid-season replacement, nine episodes of a workplace comedy about the events team at a high-end hotel. Its only buzz came from the big names behind the camera (showrunner Tony Stark, scion of not one but two Hollywood dynasties) and in front of it (Steve Rogers, once a pop star in mid 2000s boyband The Howlies and now an actor with a decent number of critically acclaimed movies under his belt.) Flying under the radar seemed to be the secret to the show's success: its blend of offbeat comedy and heartfelt emotional beats (plus a wave of cancellations at the network) earned it a second season and space to hit its stride.

Critics seem to agree that the cast--rounded out by Natasha Romanoff, James Rhodes, and Scott Lang--never felt fully complete until its two major second season additions: writer's room standout Sam Wilson (playing an efficiency consultant sent in to streamline the team's performance) and Rogers' former bandmate Bucky Barnes (turning his guest appearances as the unmotivated heir to the hotel empire into a series regular spot.) By season three, the show has gone from a star vehicle to a true ensemble piece, and when Steve and Natasha announce their intention to not renew their original contracts for a fourth season, the writer's room is thrown into a tizzy.

Eventually, a plan develops to embrace the chaos of the double departure. Sam and Bucky's characters emerge as the de facto leads of the show, contending with the chaos of the staffing change and the slew of new faces brought in for season four. It goes shockingly smoothly when the cameras are rolling, but as soon as the director calls cut, the energy changes. The pressure of their new roles has spun two years of largely silly bickering into something else entirely, and it's anybody's guess whether the electricity between their two leads will translate into sparks or just send the entire production up in flames.

(Spoiler alert: it might do both.)

[improvised-finish]

Welcome to Lehon'a's House!

Figured since this is now linked to Etheirys, I should have something here so people aren't totally lost! Welcome to the place for any and all writing, art (read: commissions), and lore for Lehon'a Nhavareh, my main OC/WoL/whatever you wanna call it.

The WoL universe will be tagged warrior of light, and the civilian one will be tagged keeper of the cadence!

The basics:

Name - Lehon'a Nhavareh

Age - doesn't know exactly, her mother guesses around 24

Nameday - since she was abandoned as a child, she celebrates it on the day she was taken in: the 23rd day of the 1st Umbral Moon

Occupation - Warrior of Light (MSQ universe)/Professional dancer as a member of the Sapphire Sky Ensemble & protection-for-hire (civilian verse)

Guardian - Menphina, the Lover

Height - ~165 cm, but who's counting?

Jobs - Dancer, White Mage, Gunbreaker, a bit of Red Magic (MSQ universe) / knows a bit of basic conjury and war dancing (civilian verse)

Lehon'a was taken in at an extremely young age by a female moon keeper with no children of her own, sometime between her first and second summer. Assigned male at birth, she was given her mother's name with the 'a suffix to indicate being her first son, and she's decided to keep the name after transitioning out of respect for her mother. She always got a lot of odd looks being a sun seeker raised within a keeper community, but over time she began to become part of the tribe, so to speak, especially by becoming involved with their very musical worship of Menphina. Her natural sense of rhythm made her an excellent percussion player, so even if she couldn't directly participate she was still a regular fixture whenever there was music to be heard.

A few small excursions outside of her home had made Lehon'a curious about the wider world, and given that male keepers are often expected to roam, it seemed only fitting that between her 18th and 19th summer, she left for Gridania to learn the art of conjury and become an adventurer, hoping to help those she could and making ends meet.

It is here the two paths diverge: Her study of conjury (that becomes white magic) and encounter with Yda and Papalymo pushes her to join the Scions and embark on what would become the rest of the MSQ as the Warrior of Light. In the universe where she doesn't possess the blessing of light, however, she ends up staying just long enough to learn the very basics of wind and earth magic before being carried away to other places on escort jobs.

The exact circumstances of it vary based on which path she takes, but eventually she comes to realize something isn't right inside herself, and grows closer to the goddess Menphina in searching for what it is that's troubling her. After many journeys across Eorzea and a brief encounter with the goddess herself, she realizes that what she truly wants is to live as a daughter of the moon, not a son as she was born. With her adoptive mother's blessing, she transitions from male to female (and changes appearance with a little help from a phial of fantasia), living as her true self from that moment on.

(I've got more fleshed out in some stories and other lore style writing that will be here soon, but I don't want to make this too long since it's gonna be pinned, and I think it'll be easier to separate the WoL-verse stuff from the civilian verse into their own posts!)

[weatheredpileoftomes]

passed pawn

For FFXIVWrite Day 13, “check”. Helenne, end of A Realm Reborn patches, major spoilers for 2.55, ~550 words. Warnings for, in fact, 2.55.

A very sound tactical mind has planned all this.

Helenne learned to play chess as part of her education, as a pursuit befitting a noble; she excelled at it, because she has what her colleagues in the arcanists’ guild assure her is an uncommon grasp of mathematics. She is familiar with arranging pieces to trap, and eventually to capture.

She had even considered how those pieces might feel, if they were real queens and knights, bishops and castellans, foot soldiers dragged into a grand war to defend a feeble king. She’d liked to consider them as people, and the stories they might live. The gambits, the captures, the valiant defenses, the battles of attrition; the final victory as the king, tipped over, rolls across the board and into stillness.

Nanamo’s crown had chimed, faintly, as it hit the tile. Raubahn’s armor had hit the ground with a clash.

They never say what happens to the pawns left after the endgame. Helenne had never considered it, but now she knows herself pursued. She’d been promoted, maybe; she’d found herself a knight, or even a queen, but with her side defeated all she can do is inch forward again…

“Helenne!” Thancred snaps. His fingers bite into her shoulders.

Helenne blinks, and focuses on his face.

“Come on.”

They run. Helenne doesn’t think about board games of strategy, just about the torchlit stone of the hallways—gilded bright, but with deep shadows—and the thick pile of the carpeting—soft enough to muffle footsteps. She glances back at Papalymo once, but he’s keeping up as well as the rest of them, though he’s older and shorter and inclined to leave the vigorous activity to Yda.

She wishes she’d worn something other than white. She’s covered in Raubahn’s blood, a crimson spray as loud as a shout that will make it impossible to pretend she’s some other Elezen just passing through the city.

“Wait,” she blurts suddenly. “I need to—”

Yda is bouncing on her toes with impatience, but they do wait, just long enough for Helenne to trace a familiar circle on the back of her hand and re-summon Larkspur.

She does come. One of her wings is a little askew, and she glares up at Helenne with her arms crossed, but she comes, alive and well, when she’s called. Helenne holds out a hand in overwhelming relief and Larkspur ignores it, but deigns to perch on her shoulder instead, half-tucked behind her hair.

She’d saved Raubahn’s life, and Ilberd had known it. Helenne had felt her aether dissipate as he grabbed her; she hadn’t known whether Larkspur had un-summoned herself, or been killed, or whether if she was killed it would be permanent.

“Shall we?” Y’shtola asks. There is clear in her voice the implication that the only acceptable answer is yes; fortunately, it’s the one Helenne already wanted to give.

They run, defending and defenseless, and the chessboard comes back to Helenne again. She has sacrificed pieces, and she knows the wisdom of it, but leaving Papalymo and Yda feels wrong, even if it might be wise. Leaving Y’shtola and Thancred feels worse.

When Minfilia says she needs to stay, Helenne trusts her, but then she’s alone again under the bitter stars, and this time—unlike last time—she knows enough to be lonely.

[bluberryffxiv]

Dawn's Envoy

FFxivWrite2023 Day 1 Prompt: Envoy Character(s): Bonana Time: Post-Endwalker

Rip. Rip. Rip.

He pulled rhythmically at the thread with his seam puller, slowly unraveling the hard work that went into the creation of these few fine garments.

It’s alright, he thought to himself, sometimes you have to be torn apart before you can be remade. And when you are, hopefully you’ll be something greater.

A strange and sentimental thought, for sure. It had been many months since, but it seemed the end of the Final Days still lingered on Bonana’s mind. It felt like a fever dream to him, the events of Ultima Thule in particular a jumbled nightmare, the details of which he couldn’t recall. He would dismiss it as just that, a dream, if the proof of it happening didn't rest above his ear as a flower.

But the proof lied within him, too, in the way he carried himself, in how his attitude had changed. His conscience felt lighter, unburdened. He saw the world with new eyes, heard its thrumming song, felt its beating heart. It washed over him until it overflowed, driving a desire to share this feeling with the world.

That was why he sat in his room at the Baldesion Annex tearing away at Tataru’s class craftsmanship in a fit of inspiration. He needed something that would reflect this new era, something grand, something that said “help is here”. Something that was “hope”.

He spent a few hours diligently plucking away at the fabric with a needle, doing his best to make every stitch count (but not stressing about making it perfect). Over and under, over and under, over and under. It was quite therapeutic, and he silently thanked his mother for teaching him how to sew. 

When all was said and done, he sat back and admired his handiwork. Then, he slipped on the white undershirt made from what was formerly his didact’s coat gifted by the Scion’s coinkeeper. The overcoat was a pleasant light blue and adorned in a myriad of golden chains and red jewels, created from a scholar’s raiment of the same boutique and a justacorps purchased in Radz-at-han. It all seemed to come together perfectly, and the fit was just right. Over the moon with himself, he leaped over to the dresser to pick out the rest of the outfit.

He settled on his favorite trousers he’d gotten from the firmament, the gold trim running down the sides complimented the coat perfectly. In contrast, the black boots he picked were just the standard knee-high fare worn over at the Studium, and the leather halfgloves a creation of the mammets over on the island sanctuary.

It was always unfortunate he had to climb on top of the dresser to make full use of the mirror, but the slight embarrassment quickly faded as he witnessed the full ensemble. Maybe he was a bit full of himself in the moment, but after all that he had been through he felt he’d more than earned it. He hopped down and took one more pass over himself, then headed for the door to make his debut.

[shina913]

Your year, your words

Thank you @btscarnivalnet for encouraging this retrospective of 2022. It was a big writing year for me and I've met so many beautiful people through this site. I'm so happy to be sharing a space with so many humans who can build worlds and create visuals that I never even thought possible. Let's keep that energy into 2023 🎉

✦ How many works(fics, gfx, gifs) have you released this year?

24 fics (including spin-offs/one-offs)! I really set out to build my masterlist this year and I can’t believe how much I’ve written…I am losing my mind over it!

✦  Which ones took the longest to make?

I have a handful of ongoing fics but so far, Scions is taking me the longest to update. My chapters for that fic are long, super angsty, and very dramatic. It’s also an ensemble story so I try to make sure that I give each character their own moment. It’s a lot of balls (heh) to juggle!

✦  Which ones took the least amount of time to make?

I have several one-shot fics that I’ve written in either one sitting or within a day. The quickest fics that I’ve been able to write were:

Ristretto 1, KNJ

Revenant, MYG

Stubble, KNJ

Whirr, MYG

Satiated, JJK

In terms of series, Intersect took me the shortest amount of time to complete. I was just very inspired, I guess?

✦  Pick out some of the works you’re most proud of and tell us something about the creative process. (Be it idea, the actual work, how it started, whether it changed lanes between, etc) 

I love all of my stories but am proud of Scale and Coquet.

For Scale–I have a love-hate relationship with it because the plot had morphed into this really complex story since I first came up with it. It was just supposed to be a chaebol/CEO!Jin trope…and then my mind just went off the rails 🤣 There were so many technical details that I had to look up and work into the writing. It was exhausting and I really wanted to give up several times but I stuck with it and tried to simplify the ending. It was all very satisfying once I finished it!

I also picked Coquet because I took a movie that I’ve loved over the years and tried to rewrite a slightly different ending for the characters (because I had an issue with how it ended). There were definitely some (unavoidable) plot holes but I still love how it turned out in the end.

Another thing, these two particular fics are significant to me because during the planning process, there were plot points that I wanted to introduce into each of these stories but my loves, @internetjunkdrawer and @deepseavibez quickly shot them down and discouraged me from doing so. In hindsight…they were right 🤣 They’re pretty embarrassing now that I think about it and @internetjunkdrawer and I frequently laugh about them…especially my initial idea about what I had planned for Jennie’s backstory on Coquet 😬

If you’re curious, DM me and I’ll tell you!

✦  From January to December, has your work/methodology changed? How?

My methodology hasn’t changed much since I started to write. I get an idea or inspiration somewhere and I just write on my phone or my computer. More recently, I have lengthy conversations with my sis about my plot points especially when I get stuck on something. It’s helpful for me to talk it out!

The tone of my writing has changed, though because…medication😬 But seriously, throughout the year, I have gone through many highs and lows. I found that I don’t write as often in bed as I used to, that’s for sure. There were many chapters of Gradation and Scale that were written at 3AM…

Whenever I get an idea, I try to capture it right away or at least write it down on my phone. At some point, I’ve revisited some WIPs throughout the year and either transformed them into something completely different than I originally intended to (On Tilt) or repurposed portions and included them into my other fics (Flowerworks, Coquet).

✦  Pick a BTS song that was your biggest muse this year.

Butterfly is a constant favorite and Persona always gets me fired up.

✦  If your work could be depicted in three colors, what would you choose?

Black for some of the darker content that I’ve written; blue for inspiration, calm, and joy; and red for passion, love, and spice 😉

✦  Some words for the new creators who will enter this community in 2023.

Just write! I’ve seen non-writing moots (or they write but don’t publish) on my dash saying that they are inspired to write because of certain prompts that they’ve seen or heard recently but also scared that it might ‘suck.’ If you’re feeling inspired, just write it now and edit later. If the words are flowing, capitalize on it!

✦  Some words for yourself for the year 2023.

Let go of the things that you can't control and be kind to yourself! 🥺 

[asinglepecan]

FFXIVWrite Prompt 12: Dowdy

Aila tries to find something to wear for the upcoming banquet

-----

Aila looked at herself in the mirror. Her armor was dented, the metal still scorched from her recent battle with Vishap. Perhaps if repaired she could … no, no there was no time. She departed to Ul’dah within the day, and the banquet was not long after. Minfilia had insisted she try and dress for the occasion. She took one last pass over her armor and gave in. Time to go shopping. 

Browsing the stands in Revenant’s Toll showed few options. The town had plenty to offer for the aspiring adventurer; weapons, gear, potions, or armor. For the aspiring fashionista less so. At one stall she managed to find some finer pieces, only to discover they clashed horribly. After a few hours browsing she had come up with some dress pants and shoes from limsa, a profoundly brightly dyed shirt, and… her jewelry? Maybe? Was a fisherman's charm appropriate for a banquet? Aila let out an exasperated sigh, and found a place to sit. 

Aila looked out over the street and pondered her options. Things were looking bleak. There wasn’t the time for Tataru to make something new. Her armor barely looked functional let alone presentable. She could borrow something from one of her fellow Scions perhaps? But her tail would prove an issue for most. Or, all else fails, simply arrive in the outlandish ensemble she had managed to buy today. The thought of Minfilia's barely concealed disappointment… Aila would have to figure something out. If only she had prepared something sooner. There was little need for high fashion in her youth, leaving her unprepared for this part of her newfound fame.

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Summoning of Scion

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/AmpWSRg by Fishhfood With the limited time she had, Talia's plans could only account for so much. She counted on Father and the guards being occupied with the traitor to allow her the time she needed to get the boy into and out of the pit. She had planned a route through the compound with the least chance of encountering either regular staff members or highly trained agents. She had planned for a single man to wait at the base of the cliff, the only blind spot along the escape route. The plan seemed laughable. If someone from her team had suggested something so sudden and reliant on something as intangible as hope, especially when the outcome seemed so dire, she would have dismissed them outright. There are so many variables that haven't been accounted for, so many potential points of failure, and Talia has to fight against thinking about them as she guides Jason to the pit. What she didn't expect was what also came with him. ** Rewritten version of “trash of gotham” with De aged cale! Words: 1247, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: 백작가의 망나니가 되었다 - 유려한 | Lout of Count's Family | Trash of the Count's Family - Yulyeohan, Batman - All Media Types, Robin: Son of Batman (Comics) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: Other Characters: Bruce Wayne, Jason Todd, Stephanie Brown, Tim Drake (DCU), Barbara Gordon, On (Lout of Count's Family), Hong (Lout of Count's Family), Ron Molan, Dick Grayson, Cassandra Cain, Alfred Pennyworth, Batfamily Members (DCU), Talia al Ghul, Ra's al Ghul, White Star | Cale Barrow, Damian Wayne, Duke Thomas, Cullen Row, Harper Row, Kate Kane (DCU), Titus | Damian Wayne's Dog, Damian Wayne's Pets, Helena Wayne, Batman Ensemble, Ancient Powers (Lout of Count's Family), Lout of Count's Family Ensemble, most are mentioned - Character, Luke Fox, Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo Relationships: Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo & Everyone, Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo & Bruce Wayne, Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo & Batfamily Members, Everyone & Everyone, Talia al Ghul & Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo, Talia al Ghul & Damian Wayne, Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo & Damian Wayne Additional Tags: Badass Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo, De-aged Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo, Kid Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo, Protective Batfamily (DCU), Good Sibling Cassandra Cain, Jason Todd and Damian Wayne Meet in the League of Assassins, Jason Todd is a Batfamily Member, kinda they’re relationship is complicated, they all care for eachother, Good Parent Bruce Wayne, Bruce Wayne is Bad at Communicating, Damian Wayne is Bad at Feelings, Damian Wayne Has a Heart, Im gonna try to include ever batfamily member pls tell me if i missed one, Good Parent Talia al Ghul, She loves her kids, Not beta read we die like Jason read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/AmpWSRg

[elysiancaim]

✧ WANTED CHARACTERS

✧ Fate Series ✦ Artoria Pendragon ✦ Irisviel von Einzbern ✦ Shirou Emiya ✧ Genshin Impact ✦ Liyue characters ✦ Fontaine characters ✦ Baizhu ✧ Wuthering Waves ✦ Yangyang ✦ Chixia ✧ Ensemble Stars ✦ Shu Itsuki ✦ Kanata Shinkai ✦ Yuta Aoi ✦ Tsumugi Aoba ✦ Subaru Akehoshi ✦ Nagisa Ran ✦ Hokuto Hidaka ✦ Tomoya Mashiro ✧ The World Ends With You ✧ IDOLiSH7 ✧ Bungo Stray Dogs ✦ Pianoman ✦ Iceman ✦ Adam Frankenstein ✦ Aya Koda ✦ Bram Stoker ✦ Teruko ✧ Gokurakugai ✧ X-Men ✧ Identity V ✦ Aesop ✧ The Magnus Archives ✦ Jonathan Sims ✧ Mo Dao Zu Shi ✧ Limbus Company ✧ Path to Nowhere ✧ Hypnosis Microphone ✧ Kingdom Hearts ✧ Jujutsu Kaisen ✧ Traumerai's Grave ✦ Sumire ✧ Bayonetta ✧ Final Fantasy XIV ✦ The Scions ✧ Dungeon Meshi ✦ Falin ✧ Reverse: 1999 ✦ Time Keeper's group ✧ Detective Conan / Magic Kaito ✧ Jojo's Bizarre Adventure ✦ Jonathan Joestar ✦ Foo Fighters ✦ Emporio ✦ Weather Report ✦ Anasui ✦ Stardust Crusaders characters ✦ Diamond is Unbreakable characters ✧ Honkai Star Rail ✦ Baiheng ✦ Bailu ✦ Screwllum

Join us in eternity. Death comes for all… But you will find peace.

𝐄𝐋𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐈𝐌 is an 18+ Discord MFRP that tells the story of your characters post their “deaths” as their souls have been whisked away by “angels”.

And some beautiful images from our writers...