#seraph tanwen

[midnightmagicks]

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Day 4: Reticent

Reticent: Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.

The scratching of an ink pen across paper accented by the occasional soft hums of an age old hymn were the only sounds within the room. Dust particles illuminated by stray rays of sun from stained glass windows high above their heads floated lazily through the air as a figure, the source of the humming, wandered around the space. Books moved here, scrolls and tomes of sacred religious teachings there, a disorganized sort of organization taking place. The Viera seemed to have some kind of system in place

Another figure sat at an old, worn desk. The harsh scratch of their quill against the parchment came to a slow halt as they looked up from the page. Wordlessly, Seraph watched the other flit about the space. Their stark white hair caught the rays of sun, painting them in an almost angelic light as they worked, seemingly unaware of the elezen’s gaze. He studied them a moment longer, his face not revealing much of what he was thinking. 

As they worked, Mydia was mostly lost within their own head. Cycling through old habits, new lessons, and the pathways between these two parts of themself. They were, however, mostly aware of the sounds within their space. While eyesight was not their greatest gift, they had the keen hearing of their Vieran heritage to rely on. So when the background noise of quill on page ceased, they worked only a beat longer before pausing, tilting an ear towards their companion. “Something wrong?” Their voice soft. Caring. They turned to face the approximate direction Seraph was seated in, offering a serene smile. Their inquiry was met with a huff from the other as the larger man felt the need to retreat within himself. His gaze shifted away and he grunted. There were many things he wished to say to Mydia but…something in him fought against it. Never seeming to find the words. 

Acutely aware of the habits of the gruff man they shared a space with, Mydia sighed fondly, shaking their head. They set down the tomes they had in their arms and made their way to Seraph. The man noticed their approach and held out his arm for them to touch, assisting in guiding them towards him. Mydia reached his side, carding their fingers lightly through Seraph’s hair as they spoke again. “You’ve no need to be so reticent with me, Seraph. Speak as you feel.”

Seraph furrowed his brow, still unable to form his thoughts into words. He did, however, slowly nod. An acknowledgement to try. Eventually. But where words failed him, actions spoke clearer. And much simpler. 

He set the quill down with a shaky inhale and a slow and steady exhale. He leaned to the side, his shoulder softly impacting the viera next to him. He laid his head against them, shutting his eyes. Mydia tensed a moment, surprised by the sudden contact, but quickly recovered and continued to pet the Elezen’s head. 

And so the pair stayed like this, the comfortable silence of the room haloed by the gentle light from the windows above.

Mydia stolen from @prettygayway teehee

[prettygayway]

FFXIV 30 day writing challenge day 8: Free Day (spontaneous)

Spontaneous: performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus.

"Your hair is tangled again, bend down." Their voice is soft, tinged with amusement as they reached forward to tug a hand through knotted ebony locks.

It had been a almost a full day since Seraph had last left their shared living space, sword hefted over his shoulder and a scowl etched across his features.

Mydia didn't ask where he'd gone, or what he'd done, but they always welcomed him home with open arms and a gentle touch. Seraph deserved kindness more then anyone they'd ever met, nothing he would do or had done would ever change that.

"Sit," they pushed down against tense shoulders, the only reply a barely audible grunt as Seraph lowered himself to sit by the hearth. "There, now I can reach you properly."

"Are you hurt?" It was spoken quietly, fingers working through gnarls and knots as they listened to the fire crackling behind them.

"No," the elezen spoke simply, voice low. "You don't need to do that, just leave it."

Mydia felt Seraph turn his head towards the flames, his voice pitching even lower. Pale fingers slid from his scalp to trace a path along his jaw, thumb brushing along a cheekbone as if attempting to map out every ridge they could.

"Why would I do that?" Their index finger slid down the slope of his nose, poking the end of it for good measure. "You deserve care, Seraph." Thumb brushed along his lips, sudden and gentle. Taking in the shape, the texture, how they seemed to turn down at the corners instead of up. "I enjoy taking care of you."

The viera leaned in closer, nose nearly touching Seraph and lips curled with a rare kind of mischief. "How else can I see you?"

Their hand pressed against the side of his face, tethered and searching, before leaning in to press a chaste kiss against the corner of slanted lips.

Tomorrow they could worry about the spontaneity of their actions, but for now they would enjoy basking in the presence of Seraph and attempt to make those lips curl up.

@midnightmagicks thanks for letting me use seraph!!!

[shadesofblades]

Aoki Usa: The Black and Blue

(All of Aoki's updated lore as of JUNE 2024, up until SB. I already had this up on his ToyHouse page, but decided to post it here as well. This post is very long with lots of text. Includes characters owned to @midnightmagicks and @briar-ffxiv! This lore is just the basis of his story, meaning all RP is intertwined somewhere within)

The Quiet Child

Aoki was born by the name "Dagne" in the Skatay Range in Southern Othard. The quiet Viera child was raised by the women of the tribe until he was brought to the harsh frozen forests atop the mountains. As a young adult male of the tribe, he was expected to train and become a strong protector of the land. He was eventually tasked to guard the forest from outsiders, even if he did not wish to. Dagne had a hard time living up to the expectations of his tribe and often neglected his duties to paint or enjoy the splendors of the forest. One might say he had his head in the clouds.☆

One fateful day, this negligent protector was attacked by intruders. Too scared and violently outnumbered, Dagne allowed them to pass through in exchange for his own life. The intruders entered the sacred home of the Viera and wreaked havoc. The trees burned, the snow melted, the sight was a horror that will forever be engraved in Dagne’s memories. The outsiders were dealt with, but not without the loss of a few fellow Viera. One of these people was Dagne’s father. And this guilt will forever be carried in Dagne’s heart. Without a second debate, Dagne was banished. His crime was negligence, and in turn destroying sacred land and the the lives of fellow kin.☆

Shared Paint

Forced out of his original home, the nameless Viera left the south to live in Northern Othard, barely a backpack filled. The harsh lands were very unkind to the young adult, but by miracle he made it to the edges of the lands where Xaela ruled. Physically weak and unable to proceed, the nameless thought he would die in these strange lands. But fate shined down on him as he was found by an older Xaela man, Jebei. He was strong and fatherly, bringing the withered Viera to his home and caring for him as he recovered. Jebei called this boy Tuulai, meaning rabbit in his native Xaela tongue.☆

Tuulai had a hard time adapting to the environment, but stayed with the man and his tribe for a decent amount of time. The people of this tribe, the Hotgo Tribe, loved Tuulai. They integrated him into their culture quickly, expressing he belonged with them naturally as they shared the same hair color. They taught him many things about living the vagrant lifestyle and about Xaela culture and language. He even learned different designs of face painting and what they meant. Tuulai began to love this new life, feeling a true connection with the people and the land.☆

There was not much he could do, but Tuulai tried to repay everyone in different ways. Sometimes, this meant stealing from other tribes or travelers to the Steppe. One of these endeavors brought the little thief into a dire situation. He had taken it upon himself to steal something valuable from a visitor, perhaps something too valuable. And more, this was the wrong person to steal from. Caught and captured, Tuulai was forced to repay a new debt. Tuulai never got a chance to say why he left or simply goodbye to the Hotgo. He never said goodbye to Jebei.☆

Kaizoku Branded

Stealing from a pirate will get you employed. Or in Tuulai’s case, enslaved. As a consequence of stealing from a member of the Kyoi Pirates, Tuulai was captured and forced to work under their flag. But he needed a better name to fit in. Rabbit was too cute, no he was a cockroach to them, a gokiburi. G was their little thief, using him to sneak onto other ships, or steal whilst on land. The crew forced him to get tattoos to be a true part of the “family” against his will. He complied with little resistance as he had no strength against them. His time with these pirates was difficult and abusive, giving birth to the nickname the Black and Blue as he was blue skinned and always had bruises.☆

Everyday was a nightmare. He had no idea if he would be given food or water some days, other days he was forced to wear a ball and chain. He was constantly pushed around and even was forced to get his own hands dirty. The poor Viera never wanted to take a life. But there were moments of secret triumph. Using the thievery skills of the very pirates he served against them, G had saved the lives of children and animals by setting them free of their cages. Though he was never caught, he would often be a punching bag for the captain’s frustrations.☆

Later on in his servitude, G made a single friend aboard the ship. Sakiko was a Raen Au Ra with beautiful silky black hair and stunning green eyes. She could hold her own in a fight, even matching the strength of the captain. Whenever she could, Sakiko would bring G extra food and water if he was not allowed a sufficient amount. She would stand up for him when the others were hitting him. She made sure he was safe and accounted for if they went on missions together. And she was the Shinobi who helped him escape the Kyoi Pirates.☆

*G is Japanese slang for cockroach, aka gokiburi.

Hidden in the East

Sakiko was aboard that pirate ship in order to infiltrate them and spy on their trading routes. Once she saw the shackled Viera, she hurried to wrap up her mission to help him escape. She gave the man a place to live within her own home in Kugane, but even more importantly, she gave him his new name. Aoki, like a beautiful blue tree. Even to this day, he resonates with this name and claims it as his own. Aoki could not properly expose his identity around the city as he was still hiding from pirates and authorities alike. He was her little secret, protecting and teaching him. The two of them grew close over time, and started to get intimate. Aoki’s first romantic love blossomed with Sakiko.☆

During this time, Aoki learned the way of Shinobi from his lover as she was properly trained and worked as a formal ninja for a family of power. As a man who always tried to repay his debts, Aoki sought to put his training to good use and began to steal valuables as a means of repaying Sakiko. She found out about these stolen goods and promptly scolded him to stop lest he get caught and sentenced. Yet he did not stop. He simply tried to hide that truth from her. Of course she eventually found out. They had an abrasive argument about how the way of the Shinobi should not be used for selfish gain. They sourly disagreed.☆

It only took but a night. Perhaps he didn’t listen to her, or perhaps he was so angered by the discussion. But his carelessness allowed him to be noticed by the wrong people. Aoki was caught in the streets by some thieves associated with the Kyoi Pirates. To his aid once more, Sakiko found him and saved his sorry ass. Misunderstanding that Aoki had been attempting to steal again, she cut all ties with Aoki right then and there.☆

Killer in Kugane

Living with no house to call home, Aoki made due on the streets of Kugane. Thankfully, he had been in the city long enough to know the ins and outs of it, as well as being fluent in the language and mannerisms. He became good at scouting out a place to sleep for the night, like small alcoves or abandoned buildings. He learned to survive in a metropolis without a proper job or home. He learned how to wrap himself in ways that could hide his Viera features. As theft was the only thing he knew he was good at, he relied heavily on it to survive. He would steal and burgle without being caught and without leaving a trace.☆

One fateful night, Aoki got a bit too ambitious as he attempted to steal from a wealthy trading family. As he sneaked around the home, he was unexpectedly caught by a personal guard of the family. Aoki panicked and, in this last resort effort, accidentally murdered the man in front of one of the family’s children. Aoki had no choice but to leave the city as wanted posters were plastered to its walls.☆

Back Seaward

So he escaped via the sea, sneaking onto a ship heading westward. No longer could he be part of this eastern world which so violently kicked him out. The journey upon the ship was long, and Aoki was not fully prepared for its length. While trying to steal food, he was caught red handed. Yet to Aoki’s surprise, for the first time in his life, he was treated with undeserved kindness. The crew greeted him with open arms as they were all a mixture of reformed pirates and thieves. The journey turned from a lonely struggle to an exciting adventure with many stories and shanties. It was actually enjoyable for Aoki. The sound of violas upon the drunken sea. But he was warned not to come back to the east if he wanted to keep his head. Aoki still keeps in contact with a few of these ex-criminals from time to time as they make for good contacts in Limsa Lominsa.☆

Mist Within (ARR)

Eorzea, a land unknown. From his first stop in Limsa, Aoki traveled on the downlow to the Shroud. He stayed in Gridania and was encouraged to become an adventurer for profit. Which he did for a time, but also found theft a much more profitable business. And so the Viera never learned and history will always repeat itself. He was caught by an Elezen Knight named Seraph, but instead of turning the little thief in to the authorities, the knight brought him to the Conjurer’s guild. There, he was forced to stay with and learn from the Conjurers and Mages, almost like a community service. Aoki was grateful for not being in a prison cell, but still felt he had lost his freedom. However, he learned he was surprisingly good with controlling his aether in this way and actually enjoyed it. Staying within the forests, learning from the earth, giving back to nature. Aoki loved his time here- though he would never admit it. If the Viera ever strayed from the path of righteousness- or simply tried to skip town, Seraph would somehow always be there to bring him back.☆

As much as he denied it, Aoki enjoyed his time in the Shroud. While cities had their benefits, he much preferred the quietness of the forests. He spent much of his time with nature, tracking through parts of the Shroud many others could not or would not go. On one of these ventures, Aoki found a secluded cabin that he took shelter in from the rain. But a home wasn’t the only thing he found here. With hesitant surprise, he met a half-Elezen who lived here named Briar. It took a long while to lower his defenses, but eventually Aoki became good friends with this other man. He often visits and even may call this place home.☆

Snowflake Memories (HW)

Eventually, Aoki made his way up towards Coerthas. Chilled lands gave him great physical comfort and tremendous mental pain. It was too much of a reminder of so long ago, of his homeland back in the mountains. Even still, he began to visit time and time again. Perhaps it was sweet longing, perhaps it was self punishment. He avoided any Elezen Knight he could, but even in this place- or especially in this place, Seraph found him. Their bond seemed one sided, but Aoki was very grateful for the blonde knight.☆

It was rare that Aoki went into the actual city of Ishgard, though he picked up a job here and there from their boards when he needed the cash. He witnessed the discrimination here, and ran away from any obvious scuffles. This was not his business, not his fight to fight. Until the day he saw a Xaela woman injured in the street, this struck a chord in his heart. He silently gave the woman his attention, tending to her wounds with amazing magical prowess. She did not even get his name before he left.☆

Aoki overheard current events through tavern talk and passing conversations. This is where he learned of the ever increasing struggles in the East. Worry and fear grew in his heart so naturally, his mind making the worst of scenarios. He thought of the Xaela tribes at war. He thought of the horrors of trafficking he witnessed through the Ruby Sea. He thought of Sakiko. He had to go back. Somehow, he had to go back. It was his debt to pay.☆

Debt (SB)

Not a single soul in Eorzea knew where Aoki went. Only the seafarers that took his coin saw him last. He virtually disappeared. He was on a mission to help the frontlines. Aoki had a debt to pay, even if it cost him his life. It was better for everyone he knew to never know what happened to him. He was ready to give himself up.☆

With great haste, Aoki found the leader of the resistance in Doma as they stood to fight for all of the East and its people. He sought to fight as a shinobu against the Garlean Empire as a way to protect the east from further destruction. He was deathly efficient at his job as an assassin, but took huge risks that others would have objections against. He was reckless, but he did not care for his own safety to begin with.☆

Aoki got to visit the Steppe a number of times. He could speak with the tribes there with ease, but found resistance when asking about the Hotgo tribe. Eventually, he found out about the truth of their brutal demise and was devastated. He visited the last place they called home and began digging like a madman. Eventually, he found a single piece of broken jewelry that bore decals native to the Hotgo. A keepsake from a people who saved him long ago.☆

It was unclear if learning of the Hotgo tribe’s fate inspired Aoki or not, but he became less reckless and more cunning with his strategies. He continued his path with the shinobi and helped dismantle the Empire’s grasp on the East. He took little downtime after this and immediately headed back to Eorzea, no honors and mentions for this solitary man. Once back in Eorzea, Aoki sought out friendly faces. Many of them turned sour at the sight of him, even Seraph who had put so much trust in him. There were friendships gravely lost because of his selfish recklessness, but deeper bonds for it as well. He returned to Briar’s home in the Shroud with anxiety, to be greeted with a warm welcome he did not deserve.☆

[shadesofblades]

Waiting

(A small writing about Aoki waiting for Seraph to return. Seraph is @midnightmagicks’ boy!)

A strained thumb pressed against his palm, hands clasped together. Tension built as he continued wringing his hands together, over and over and over. His leg bounced up and down as he sat, shaking the seat he was falling out of. Short breaths escaped through his twitching nose, eyes darting around. So uneasy, so nervous, so ready to jump at any moment. 

When would it happen? When could I see him? Would he hate me? Would he hurt me?

Wrapped up in his own mind, he stood pushing the seat over. The sound of wood hitting stone not even reaching his clouded thoughts.

No, no, no. Idiot! Don’t think like that, no. In fact, don’t think at all! 

Pacing around the room, fast legs allowed him to dart around in circles. Thinking, thinking, over thinking. Too much waiting. If his expected company did not kill him, his nerves just might.

[shadesofblades]

( loss ) : one muse has just suffered a tragedy and comes to the other muse for comfort

Aoki and E'mal. Seraph aftermath. You Know What I Mean

(This is a long one, and I am pretty proud of it ;-; Lots of angst...)

It happened again. Left alone once more. Again. And again and again. He fell to his knees in defeat, armored plates slamming against the stone ground below him. His face was void of color as he looked down to his own shadow. A last chance was now long gone, through the metal gates and through the snow. 

Sharp waves of unexpected warmth crawled through him and shook his head. Painfully gritting his teeth, Aoki tensed and quaked in helpless rage. His gloved hands shot to his hair and started frantically pulling and messing with it. “<It’s your own fault!>” He growled gutterly in a foreign tongue. Heart beating fast, fingers strained, back shivering. “<You keep fucking up!>” Fear and panic, so familiar and never accustomed to. A wave of numbing static coursed through him until he had no more energy. Weakened arms went limp against either side of him. 

Little flakes of snow fluttered down to rest on his now disheveled hair. He sat silent and still as if petrified. Slow moving breaths became less and less visible from under his nose. If there was noise around him, he could no longer hear it. Just the ringing of anxiety. Another familiar feeling. Yet with no strength and no plan, his body still managed to pick itself up from the ground. It turned and began to walk.

He could not hear the chains that adorned his armor hitting against the plate. He could not hear his soft footfalls against the stone ground. He could not hear the distant sounds of people talking within the city. He could not hear others walk past him as they gave him confused or concerned glances. He could not hear the world around him as his body decided to push him forward. Until it stopped, and he stood silently looking upon a wooden door. Before his mind came back to him, his knuckles had already knocked upon the door.

“Why am I here?” Aoki’s first thought occurred to him as he heard the door unlock and swing open. A familiar face was there to greet him.

“Oh,” E’mal stared back at the other Viera with gentle surprise. “Hello, Aoki. I wasn’t expecting you to stop by… And so late…” his keen eye glanced over Aoki with an increasingly furrowed brow. “I thought you always take better care of your hair.” He teased out of habit, but then stayed himself as his glance fell upon Aoki’s hollow expression. “Come in, alright? You’ll freeze out here.”

Aoki was hurriedly pulled into the warmth of the chamber, the door closing behind him. He took a few steps further into the room before he stopped movement entirely. Something was stopping him, something inside him. It felt as if something began to hold his throat tightly, as if something threatened to hurt him if he continued. The familiar sense of fear crawled back through him.

Before he was snapped back to his surroundings once more by a gentle grab on his arm. Wood crackled softly in the fireplace, a faint scent of baked sugar wafted in the air. He was pulled further into the home and found himself sitting on a cushioned seat. His weak eyes finally laid upon the other who had let him into his chambers. Mouth slightly ajar, as if needing to speak but having nothing to say.

E’mal sighed heavily as he watched Aoki struggle to form words. Shaking his head, he adjusted his silken robe tighter around him as he sat next to the helpless man. “What happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost, dear.”

Aoki’s eyes trailed off of E’mal as he sat down, leaving him to stare down to his hands that rested on his thighs. A voice so unusually quiet left his dry lips, “Seraph left.”

As the words left his mouth, his throat started to close again. He tried to swallow, but there was nothing but dry air. His eyes squeezed tight as his senses began to mute again. Blacking out could happen at any moment now. Then a hand was on his shoulder and his eyes shot back open. In front of him was a glass of water which he took from E’mal. A surprised look dawned his face as he didn’t even hear the other man move. 

He sipped slowly, then sighed shakily.

“Tell me what happened, Aoki.” E’mal was sitting by his side again.

The next few moments were difficult, and to Aoki, it felt like an eternity to explain. Reliving the conversation that had just happened not but moments before. Revisiting words and emotions he never wanted to hear or feel again. There were moments he had to stop to catch his breath, tears swelling up and choking on the lump in his throat. 

Perhaps this was truly the first time Aoki had confessed to E’mal. No other time would the blue bunny let his thoughts and emotions spew so freely. Only a broken heart could form such a broken man. And he did not stop himself. So unlike any time before, he let himself be seen in his emotions. Tears streaming freely down his face, makeup running with them. Shaking and trembling as he tried his best to stay together. He even allowed himself to be hugged by the other. Strands of misplaced hair getting tucked behind an ear, fingers combing through to calm him.Tired and strained, he finally brought his eyes back to E’mal. 

“I’m s-sorry,” his words were never more honest than they were now. “I’m a horrible man. I’m a horrible f-friend.” His face then rested on his palms as he leaned down into himself. “I’m sorry, E’mal.”

A gentle hand laid against his back as he was responded to with grace, “While it’s true you’ve done bad things, you still have a chance to make things right.” E’mal leaned down a bit to match Aoki’s face. “Seraph will be back. He has to come back for supplies. So when he does, you better go to him and stay with him, Aoki.” His hand began to rub the other’s back. “You understand? He needs you more than ever right now. And by the looks of it, you need him too.”

His words were like little stars in the darkness of night, guiding and true. Aoki looked over at E’mal once more, an unintentional expression of pleading in his glossy eyes. He nodded and sat upright once more. Bags had grown under his now puffy eyes, makeup smudged and smeared across his face, his hair was still a mess. He nodded again with no energy to argue and whispered, “Okay.”

Before Aoki could get another word out, E’mal stood up and laid his hands on his hips. “You're staying the night- at least.” He began to walk around his home, opening drawers and cabinets to retrieve blankets and towels. “And please!” E’mal stood in front of Aoki once more, “Please take a bath. You look awful, honey.” 

Aoki stood with what little energy he had left and took the cloth E’mal presented to him. He bowed ever slightly, “Thank you.” His voice low and worn from his hours of audible heartache, it was clear that he had exhausted himself. 

For the rest of the evening, he did as he was told. He bathed and cleaned up, relaxing his muscles with the hot water and wiping away the destroyed makeup over his eyes. After drying off and changing, he immediately went to his bed for the night which E’mal had made from his couch. His weary head hit the pillow and his eyelids closed heavily. And while anyone would think he could fall asleep after the events of that evening, he could not. His eyes stayed closed, all the more vulnerable to his thoughts in this dark space. He lay still but a moment before his brows furrowed and lips tightened in a frown. His tears ever endless.

[shadesofblades]

Consequences

(Small writing of Aoki insomniac angst. Involves Seraph who is @midnightmagicks boy!)

Eyes dry and cold from too many tears wiped away across his growing dark circles. Pain ached in his head as much as in his chest. No matter how many tears he rapidly rid of, he would always find himself crying. Shoulders slumped and back curled, his head rested on the mattress under him. 

“<It never ends right.>” 

His words quiet in his hushed and weak voice. 

“<Never.>”

Closed eyes gave way to more tears. He was tired, so tired. Yet his own mind did not allow him to rest. Guilt and sorrow weighed heavy on his chest.

“Never…”

His hands ravaged his hair as he curled tighter in his fetal position. A weak groan escaped him as he pained to expel his grief. So weak. He felt so weak.

And he stopped. Stopped moving and stopped attacking himself. Mismatched blue eyes slowly started to reopen.

“Seraph…”

Silence followed his sudden remark. Till his brow furrowed and his eyes went wide.

“Why that? Why?” 

He shifted and turned wildly in his bed. Sheets wrapping themselves around him. Stopping, staring. Staring into the colorless wall before him. 

His brows grew saddened once more as he continued to stare. 

“Seraph…” 

[shadesofblades]

@amissa-fide / @tenebris-indutis - @huntinghare - @bloodybattles

@midnightmagicks - @vazaymir - @midnightmagicks

(Thank yall again for letting me draw your characters! They are all so beautiful!!)

[midnightmagicks]

//I'm posting this because I adore it Muchly

@shadesofblades drew another one of my alts my character Seraph!

[shadesofblades]

(A small moment between broken lovers. Seraph is @midnightmagicks boy! Also from the stream)

[shadesofblades]

❤️ Love - Draw your OC with their romantic partner(s)

//HEHEHE TAKE YOUR PICK ON WHO

(Aoki with Seraph! Aoki is in denial about his romantic attraction to Seraph and people in general. But Seraph will always be there... right? Thank you for the prompt!)