#soulshards-ffxiv

[shadesofblades]

Contest

Au Ra August 2023: Day 2

(@soulshards-ffxiv took these amazing screens of Bites and Sebits with @midnightmagicks' Enkh and my Shunbai! An arm wrestle between Bites and Shunbai with Seb and Enkh observing.)

[midnightmagicks]

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Day 26: Zip

Zip: Move at high speed.

TW: NSFW !! Naughty kitsune ahead

It had been….a few months now. A few months with not so much a wisp of Daichi’s existence. It wasn’t entirely unlike the odd yokai to disappear for a time, zipping in and out of their lives upon his own whims. This was however…one of the longest amounts of time he’d gone without bothering Hajime. Unfortunately for Daichi though, Hajime was petty. 

Upon receiving the explicit (and rudely put) instruction not to enter his little portal domain, Hajime complied completely. He wouldn’t so much as think about that place. The place he knew Daichi was more than likely stuck in, currently. A lesson in the consequences of taking a tone with the fickle kitsune that is Hajime.

But, unfortunately for Hajime, Daichi had finally gotten out. 

And after a rampage in the sun and sea, he found himself standing on the interior of Hajime’s room. There was an intensity behind his stare that manifested around him, pulses of energy coming from hairline cracks along his body. He smirked, though his eyes held nothing friendly. 

“Well, hello there Hajime.  Lovely to see you again. Did you miss me?” Hajime looked over the teacup that had just made its way to his lips. So much for his peace and quiet. With a roll of his eyes, he set the teacup delicately down, not bothering to stand nor look at the intruder. His tail flicked lazily and as his gaze was on his own clawed hand. He flexed it in thinly veiled threat when his eyes drifted to the other; The guise of apathy oozing from his tone when he finally spoke. 

“Is there nothing better to do with your new-found freedom than ruin my day? I’m sure you have other things to attend to.”

Daichi’s muscles tensed, a vein popping on his forehead. Clearly agitated, his tail swished violently and he bared his fangs in a dangerous grin. “I’ve had several months ruined because you couldn’t be bothered to come find me.” “Am I your keeper? Why is that my responsibility?” “Not that I enjoy admitting this to you, you self centered ass, but you’re powerful enough to break me through the barrier that occasionally traps me.” “I seem to recall you being the one to tell me to stay out of your space.” “That obviously doesn’t apply when I’m trapped.”

“You never specified that.” The pair bickered back and forth as Daichi got increasingly agitated. He dug his claws into the palms of his hands as his body trembled with barely contained energy. Hajime seemed calm and collected, simply relaxing on his couch. This only enraged Daichi further. He couldn’t take it. 

With a snarl, his form shifted and stuttered as he teleported almost instantly across the room and on top of Hajime, pinning him against the couch with his hands gripping his collar. 

“I could kill you right now, you annoying prick. I will tear your throat out with my teeth–”

Hajime grinned wickedly, seemingly unconcerned with the sudden violence. His hands gripped Daichi’s upper arms, claws digging in enough to draw blood as he dragged crimson lines down towards his elbows. 

“I invite you to try, pup. Though…I do think there are better ways for you to occupy your obnoxious mouth.”

Despite his pettiness, Hajime had to admit he was *bored*. And what better way to cure boredom? His eyes drifted over the other’s rage-filled features, lingering on his lips before looking back into those mismatched eyes. 

Those eyes widened at the words, seemingly taken….completely off guard. For a moment. His eyebrows furrowed, and he growled lowly. “I won’t be nice to you, Hajime.” “I’m not asking you to be.” Daichi sat there, hands still gripping the other’s collar, unmoving. He stared as if battling something in his own brain. The swirl of feelings and pent-up energy confusing his thoughts. Too slow. Hajime grew impatient and huffed before snapping “Useless idiot.” at him and surging forward, crashing their lips together harshly. There was no affection or gentleness in it. All animalistic urges. That was enough to snap Daichi from his haze and he growled again, finally releasing the other’s shirt to begin fumbling with the complicated and pretentious robes Hajime was wearing. He’d managed to get the robes parted in time for Hajime to bite his bottom lip. Harshly. Daichi’s face reeled back and he swore, Bringing a hand up to harshly grab Hajime’s jaw. He tasted blood and would have felt a surge of anger had Hajime not whined at his grip.  That sent a different feeling prickling across his skin and he flicked his tail, feeling weirdly proud.

“Huh…interesting.”

“Shu–Shut up, Daichi.”

All the while, Daichi’s free hand had undone the tie on the front of Hajime’s pants, his touch wandering until his hand was around the blonde man’s length. This made Hajime dig his nails in harder, muscles twitching as he desperately searched for more friction. 

Daichi grinned, firmly pressing their lips together, blood from the earlier bite staining the other as well. When he pulled away, he looked at Hajime’s face, seeing his pupils blown wide and cheeks reddened. Smugly, he spoke in between catching his breath,

“You look pathetically desperate.”

“Relying on Leeja for– for entertainment gets old after a while, you know.”

The other’s expression changed and he groaned, pulling a face.

“.....Can you not talk about him while my hand is shoved down your pants, please?”

Hajime barked a laugh at the other's disgusted tone. His laugh faded into a stuttered sigh quickly as Daichi moved his hand quickly, effectively shutting the smaller kitsune up for a moment. Squirming against that hand, Hajime looked into mismatched eyes with his remaining shred of defiance. His breathing was heavy, but he squared his jaw. 

“You wo– *hnngh*-- won't make me beg. *Get on with it.*”

As he said, it wasn’t a beg. It was a demand.  

“Easy, hime. I'm in control right now–”

“Daichi, I will skin you alive if you ever call me that again–”

“Stop acting like a princess, then.” Daichi jolted violently when he felt a hand snake across the front of his pants suddenly before slipping down under the band of his underwear. A finger caressed the head with too much gentleness before the hand wrapped around his shaft. Hajime leaned in, grinning against his throat as Daichi hissed out a strangeled sounding “Fuck-”. Slowly but with purpose, Hajime moved hand down and then back up, repeating this motion a few times. He felt the other’s tensing and quivering with his movements, chuckling cruelly as he froze his motions. Daichi growled and Hajime bit down on the junction between shoulder and neck, causing another snarl. “Hajime…” “Shut up and behave. I’m not done playing with you yet, pup. You're not the one in charge anymore.”

----------- Daichi belongs to @soulshards :) I have decided I cannot submit these at the deadline because it STRESSES ME OUT so I am doing this entirely chaotically for the remainder of ffxivwrite yeehaw lessgo--

[sunderedazem]

Soulshards (Ch 4)

Self-Appointed Sibling (Mid-ARR, Coerthas)

Chapter rating: Gen, No Archive Warnings Apply, Sickfic

Summary:

Coerthas is a cold place, and its clime is cruel to foreigners used to the sunny warmth of southern Eorzea. Especially if they're the type to push too hard and too fast, and burn the candle at both ends, as is the young Scion now grumbling and feverish in one of Camp Dragonhead's sickrooms.

Haurchefant will see them well, however. It's the least he can do - and Count Edmont de Fortemps agrees wholeheartedly.

(Haurchefant POV. Set just before the Stone Vigil)

Ao3 Link!

Start Snippet: There was only so much the poor lad could take, and if what Haurchefant had heard from the young Miqo’te’s erstwhile companions was true, his troubles had begun far earlier than his arrival in Coerthas, unpleasant as it must have seemed at the time. Nay- the grief he must have carried to this point must have finally worn him through. To no surprise, to be sure – the young man had already been all over Coerthas it seemed, rescuing members of House Durendaire, House Haillenarte, and even his own House Fortemps from both heretics and false accusations of heresy. And while Haurchefant had at first only allowed a passing interest and sympathy for the Scions’ pleas to find their missing airship, Corrain’s single-minded drive and soft-smiling dedication to simply making the world he lived in better had entirely stolen away the hearts of those around him. Lord Portelaine and Lord Drillemont of House Durendaire and the young Lord Francel of House Haillenarte, among many others, all now looked upon him with both respect and the warm affections one would afford to a folk hero. And Haurchefant himself found that he should be included in that number, though not unwittingly. Thus endeared, he’d taken it upon himself to provide for the young warrior and his companions now, both as thanks for unmasking Guillaime as a false Inquisitor and heretic to boot, and as- well, a mere expression of his own gratitude for the pleasure of making Corrain’s acquaintance.

[estinininininen]

FFXIV: Can you imagine the Ascians' reactions to Midgardsormr landing on this planet? They didn't know about life on other stars. If they missed his actual landing they'd be gallivanting around, jumping to the other shards, teehee we'll get that dastardly Venat, and then they come back and find

this thing

protecting a lake full of aether, it's the size of a skyscraper from the World Unsundered, it's immortal, it has funky aether they can't sense or manipulate like other sundered beings' aether, its soul is in its eyes, it's incredibly strong, it seems to be able to change its shape, holy shit it's like it's unsundered is it even ethical to fight this thing, and it may also be able to eat people to get their souls and then that soulshard is kinda immortal again? how did Venat come up with this thing -

And then the lizard opens its mouth to the nice mortals that are hanging around asking questions and it says, completely intelligent, that a goddess called Hydaelyn let him stay on this planet if he protects the lake and does her a favor every now and then. Oh, and meet his first baby. The other 6 are going to hatch at some point.

I think the Ascian in the awestruck crowd would have just shat out of their borrowed body on the spot and gone running to the others like "You will not BELIEVE what that fucking bitch beat us to"

[briar-ffxiv]

Character Associations: Briar Redfeather

Fill out 3 or more symbolic associations for each category!

(Lovely art by @calico-heart )

✧EMOTIONS/FEELINGS✧

hopeful - The world can be a better place. He knows it can. curious - There's so much to see and learn. lonely - He doesn't have to be alone forever, does he? determined - to survive, to thrive, to grow brave - fear won't stop him

✧COLORS✧

green - growth, spring coming, hope, home blue - cool water, healing magic, rain white - kiss of winter, the bright moon, the touch of frost brown - the giving earth, the ancient trees, the steady feel of his bow red - boldness, a fox, survival, blood on the ground

✧SCENTS✧

wood - beloved bow, steady staff, the safety of home iron - blade, blood, a blacksmith's hammer, rebuilding leather - the creak of armour, the feel of a saddle under him wool - his sheep, home, the comfort of warmth around him patchouli - the forest, the rain, the comfort of a familiar person

✧OBJECTS✧

bow - a steady, comforting weight in his hand, a connection to the father he never knew cloak - his mother's. A reminder that he was once loved and that she's with him still stave - he is both a shepherd and a wanderer. He'll keep those with him as safe as he can. satchel - it has what he needs. It is security no matter what happens. journal - memories kept safe, special moments preserved

✧BODY LANGUAGE✧

restless hands - nervous, but hopeful, afraid to mess things up tilted head - a lack of understanding, but a craving to know bitten lip - so many things to say but unsure of the words furrowed brow - he's trying very hard to figure this out gentle touch - he's there and he wants to help if he can

✧AESTHETICS✧

forest - beautiful, but dangerous, full of green growing things but also predators unicorn - delicate and beautiful, pure and fierce, unlikely defender briar rose - a wild flower, beautiful but there are thorns, tougher than first appearances bare feet - humble, giving, connected with the earth red hair -hidden fire, strong spirit, willful and a bit of temper lamb - innocence, sacrifice, gentleness, forgiveness

Tagged by: @calico-heart - thank you! <3

Tagging: @shadesofblades @midnightmagicks @aidoneus-forgeron @starsworn @vythanis @soulshards-ffxiv @prettygayway @naejlas-axe @scholarlostintime @cantspelldragoonwithoutgoon @miqomischief @thefrostflower @ythealleycat @spotofmummery @ainyan @actualanxiousswampwitch @fluffyscholar and anyone else that wants to do it! <3

[coffeehands]

( Lee for @soulshards-ffxiv ❤️ )

[lal-ffxiv]

🍂 leaves: what does your editing process look like? how does your wip typically change as you work on it?

my editing process is looking for the red squiggles of misspelled words or reading it again and finding missing words after I posted it, but editing is the very, very last step of the process. Long answer below the cut.

Thank you so much @soulshards for sending this ask!

I'm going to use the latest piece of Luka's Story as my example of how a WIP changes as I work on it because I worked on it for almost 4 years. I started the piece for the prompt Part in the FFXIV Write in 2020 where I had written the first part for the prompt clamour .

I don't have orginal draft anymore since I write drafts on my phone as my phone doesn't have spell check and it helps me not edit while I write. I do have copy of the .txt file though. So 1st draft looks like this.

This draft goes through several revisions. The first draft gets expanded by adding context to actions, more emotions and scene or summary.

When I was coming back from hiatus this year I said I would get this write done so I collected every draft. It looks like this:

These are the drafts side by side with my core idea at the top (30 pages). This is /are the drafts in chronological order by scene with final the revision (21 pages).

That goes into another doc where it is edited. During this I still felt it was missing something. It wasn't complete to me, so I actually had go back to my draft of clamor to a scene I had cut to expand on that.

Then final edits are done on tumblr's draft since it can change the formatting of my paragraph breaks and gets words that docs misses.

This one write got sectioned into four pieces which tell the story I want to tell in the best way I can write now and I'm sure I still errors in grammar or typos or issues with my syntax but I'm writing and its good enough for me.

(This answer doesn't included reseacrch which is its whole own process)

Published pieces here: 1 2 3 4

Not all writes are so long though. Some do go from 1st draft to edits because its good enough of me on how the idea is translated in the writing. Like my writes for ffxivwrite this year.

This this one goes through one revision before edits, but this one goes straight to edits. (Last one doesn't show the research I did on ferns though.)

Thank you so much for asking this ask and letting me go off for an hour about my writing process. I love you. Thank you again.

[sundered-souls]

8. did you have a muse you tried to play, but didn't feel connected to?

(Munday asks - accepting even though it's not monday anymore XD)

Oh yeah, several! Even just sticking to FFXIV.

The first iteration of Alakja was a himbo, but I suck at writing silly people so I've rewrote him completely not long ago. He's not necessarily very serious now, but he can at least put two and two together :'D

The first iteration of Griveroix was not too far from how he currently is, but the new one is more refined and I did change a few key aspects. He's not as unlucky and he's less of a loser, though still very much a coward. His relationship to Carvalhain isn't as close as it was, because it constrained him too much when I was trying to do something without the pirate captain. I also switched his constant feeling of longing for one of dread and apparently it works better. I think that, for the most part, the problem came from his backstory. It couldn't find ways to connect everything to my satisfaction so it didn't feel (to me) like he was a person in his own right. And I have a hard time connecting to a muse I don't understand. So I shelved him for like... three years? until I eventually got a revelation.

And then you have Wolfe. Wolfe is a special case, in the sense that I loved writing him in his first universe but I've never managed to connect with him in the same way in FFXIV. I'm not exactly sure why, but I think he just works better in a relatively confined environment. One I can influence more than, say, Ul'dah :'D So this version of him is one I couldn't really connect too, much to my displeasure because I miss the old him. I tried, though. I really did. But for now he's shelved.

There's also a bunch of characters that I'm not really sure even appeared on this blog xD One in particular that I'll probably recycle at some point, likely more as a retainer than a full-fledged character.

Thanks for the ask, @soulshards!

[valdiis]

5 Songs I'm Into RN

Tagged by @soulshards-ooc (Thank you! I love these!)

Too Sweet by Hozier (CW: Bugs in the video)

You know you’re bright as the morning As soft as the rain Pretty as a vine As sweet as a grape If you can sit in a barrel Maybe I’ll wait

Honestly, I don't care if it makes me basic or w/e, I love everything this strange bog man puts out. This song is such a jam too.

Firestorm by Danny Schmidt

I made my way from Spain to France A naked sort of paper dance There were stamps to beg for and palms demanding grease They said there’s nothing they could do They said there’s tricks that get you through Was a time I would have nailed those palms to trees

There's several really clever turns of phrase in this song and it is such a strong OC song too.

Lake Pontchartrain by Ludo

That's how it happened, why would I lie? There were no bodies, I've got none to hide I'm just a boy, lost his friends in the rain Any more questions, just go and ask Lake Pontchartrain

It's just fun, okay?

The Man by The Killers

When it comes to Friday, I always earn (Ooh-ooh) Don't try to teach me, I got nothing to learn 'Cause baby I'm gifted You see what I mean? USDA certified lean

This song is so ridiculous and wonderful. I know that the Killers in general are Horribly Depressing(TM) because my husband listens to a lot of them, but this song makes me smile.

Slumber Party by Ashnikko

Me and your girlfriend playing dress up in my house I gave your girlfriend cunnilingus on my couch She cute, kawaii, hentai boobies, that excites me I think she really likes me Ask politely, can I ooo ooo ooo

You may have noticed that I have a thing for ridiculous songs lately. Does it get more ridiculous than this one? Also, what a burn.

Tagging: @shieke, @canalstreetbaker, @so-called-yokai, @briar-ffxiv, and @shadesofblades

[avaritia-ffxiv]

5 Songs I'm Into RN

1. Tuoni - Kuolonpyörä

I LOVE the lyrics in this. But it's Finnish. And if you look up a translation, the chorus is wrong. And the chorus is the best part. So I'm a lil salty about that and had to translate it MYSELF for captainqster when sending it to them like "OMG THIS IS SO GNB GIOVANNA"

But it is, it really is her.

(Also the correct chorus goes like this:)

Pyörä pyörii - läpi ihmiselämän (The wheel turns - through human life) Pyörä pyörii - aina nauttii vähemmän (The wheel turns - always enjoys less) Pyörä pyörii - ei hellitä ikinä (The wheel turns - never relents) Kuolonpyörä - liekki ja kipinä (Wheel of death - flame and spark)

2. Beyond Awareness - Crime

This is from Nazaire's playlist.

Will I ever be fine? Do I belong in another life? Oh please show me the place where I can leave this behind Can't replace what's inside I'm all out of will to carry on with this life But if I just closed my eyes for now It's a crime

Apparently this is a Finnish band too?? The more you know. Anyway yeah very Nazaire, makes me vibe in his name.

3. Bloodbound - The Warlock's Trail

Hey it's a Swedish band this time. That's so far off.

Either way, this is from D&D Gia's playlist

In the mist of the morning a winter's day Came a man in robe from far away Out of ashes and clay of the magic vale 'Cause sorrow sail on the warlock's trail

Idk if I've ever talked about him? He's a ruthless little thing, and a warlock, so the song suits him p nicely.

4. Hozier & Bear McCreary - Blood Upon the Snow

It's not from some version of Gia's playlist!!! It's from Damonient's. I fucking love this song and it really... Gets his mood across, I feel? The melancholy, it's so good.

To all things housed in her silence Nature offers a violence The bear that keeps to his own line The wolf that seeks always his own kind The world that hardens as the harsher winter holds The parent forced to eat its young before it grows It's not my arms that will fail me But this world takes more strength than it gave me The trees deny themselves nothing that makes them grow No rain fall, no sunshine No blood upon the snow

I still haven't gotten around to doing a lil gpose to it with him.

5. Project Vela - War on Falling Stars

Embracing the darkness Telling you that it'll be okay But it's more than harmless This disease will rip your soul away I don't want to live my life by your beliefs I don't want to be caught up in vanity I don't want to swallow pills you offer me I just need to suppress these memories

This is from Saga's v2 playlist, soooooo himst after his corruption arc 'cause we can't have good sweet pure characters in this house, must ruin their whole outlook.

Tagged by @captainqster

Tagging idk who hasn't gotten tagged yet so if you've already gotten tagged or don't feel like it just ignore this but @soulshards-ooc @shadesofblades @vmbral (YES I KNOW YOU ALREADY GOT TAGGED BUT I WILL TAG YOU AGAIN) @cosmicharm (same at you) @midnightmagicks

@abalathia @shieke @briar-ffxiv @allyennah

Honorary mentions and a whole bunch of spotify links under the cut:

Bad Omens - Kingdom of Cards (from Amthan's playlist)

I made my way through hell again, I paid for my mistakes Next time, I think I'll stay awhile and pour myself a drink When I return, I'll look for you, so listen for your name If you can make it out above the roaring of the flames If it's the mask you want, then it's the mask that you will get But when I take it off, remember that you asked for this I tore myself apart to give you all that I could give Don't think that I will let it go, don't think that I'll forget I thought I wanted legacy, I thought I wanted fame I didn't know I'd lose all my loved ones in exchange Left 'em all behind and yeah, for that, I am ashamed But that's the price I'm paying 'til I'm buried in my grave

Blacklite District - Goodbye (rock mix) (from Gia and Saga v2's playlists)

Goodbye Say goodbye to the knife That you sharpen with your life Say goodbye To the dark side Goodbye Say goodbye to the lies And the pain You hold inside Say goodbye to that old life Goodbye

Hollywood Undead ft. Hyro the Hero - Comin' Through the Stereo (from Narin's playlist)

I'm going to the top and nobody's gonna stop me now Another nightmare and it's coming through the stеreo Keep going 'til I drop, 'til the hands on the clock run out Anothеr nightmare and it's coming through the stereo Straight out the gate, got them bodies dropping Ain't no grave that can hold my coffin I'm going to the top and nobody's gonna stop me now Another nightmare and it's coming through the stereo

Battle Beast - Where Angels Fear to Fly (from Nazaire's playlist)

I spread my wings and like the midnight sun I will be rising Into the frozen heights, where stars are born And where they die I'm lighting up horizons With thunder and lightning Through the darkest skies Whеre even angеls fear to fly

I COULD GO ON FOR SO MUCH LONGER, DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH MUSIC I LISTEN TO. But also yeah if I can't make it related to one character or other, it can't keep my interest.

Good thing I have a gazillion characters!

[soulshards]

Call me Souls! This is my main blog for my many characters and the many more I will likely make in the future. A place to post screenies, writing and asks etc. I have a blog for my boy, Ezie, over on @bloodredhands. OOC blog is @soulshards-ooc, for more general FFXIV content and relbogs.

All OCs Carrd Dossier

General OC Screenshot Tag

FFXIVWrite2022 Master Post

FFXIVWrite2024 Master Post

OC List Below the Cut!

Awinita, The Blazing Gun: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd (WIP)

Daichi, The Glitch: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd

Deeza, The Fiend of Earth: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd Fida, The Hopeful Heart: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd

Gansu, The Shrieking Tide: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd (WIP) Kintaro, The Golden Sun: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd

Kiros, The Rune Knight: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd (WIP) Kura, The Jade Spirit: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd

Lee, The Thunderous Strike: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd Maeva, The Nightmare: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd

Miahka, The Witch: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd Nanako, The Calming Bell: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd

Rhulvam, The Desert Sapphire: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd Takemi, The Flame Viper: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd

The Twins, The Nameless Ones: Asks || Screenshots || Carrd

[shadesofblades]

shunbai and bites #7 mistletoe meme yes and thank you biting may be included :)

They bite as a sign of affection (mostly)...

[midnightmagicks]

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Day 3: Tempest

Tempest: The idea of anger or fighting.

Shattering glass. Insults. Swearing. More shattering glass. More insults. 

The inside of Lillian’s quarters was a mess. Everything that was once on her desk had been violently swept onto the floor. Glass shards scattered around the room in every corner and a wet spot had begun to run down the wall next to the door, flowers sadly flung onto the ground and falling apart. 

Lillian stood to the side of her desk, breathing heavily and glaring murderously at a rather nervous looking miqo’te man whose head was seemingly the target of the shattered flower vase. He held his hands up shakily, looking to the few other silent figures in the room. Most were seemingly too terrified to speak, nervously glancing between each other. There was one individual in a chair near Lillian’s captain chair who simply looked bored. He held a book, occasionally glancing to the terrified figures in the room with a blank expression or to the back of Lillian with a small smirk. He seemed to be the only one not afraid of her current wrath. 

The sharp bite of Lillain’s angry voice snapped the miqo’te man’s attention back to her and he cowered further. “Well?! Is that it then? Are you truly that worthless?” He wilted, struggling to speak for a moment before clearing his throat, voice still weak. 

“I–Well…Ma’am– Captain! Captain. If I had realized what a tempest my report would make I would have just–”

“TEMPEST?!”

The aforementioned captain bellowed, causing everyone, minus the elezen man, who looked up in….pity? Perhaps? to flinch and stare at the ground. It seemed that he had said the wrong thing. “I will give you. Five steps.” She ground out, striding behind her desk and pulling a flintlock from a drawer beneath. The room went still. The miqo’te’s eyes were nearly the size of dinner plates. “F-Five steps?” “Yes. Five steps to get the hells out of my office and off of my ship before I repaint my office with the inside of your skull.” A click echoed the room as she drew the hammer of the flintlock back, pulling it up to aim at the man’s forehead. 

“That goes for all of you. OUT. NOW.” The quarters were empty in moments. The men scrambled, tripped over each other, yelled, and got out of her sight before she decided five steps was too many. She set the hammer back, exhaling slowly and pinching the bridge of her nose. Idiots. All of them. The Elezen behind her, smirk on his face, spoke up finally. “That, my dear, is one reason I absolutely adore you.”

She huffed, tossing a glance over her shoulder at the him. "You're a lucky man, Kiros Verville."

Ayyy thank you @soulshards for allowing me to KINDA steal Kiros LOL

[sunderedazem]

Soulshards (Ch 3)

Horrorstruck (Mid-ARR, Waking Sands Massacre)

Chapter rating: Teen, No Archive Warnings Apply

Summary: Titan's Bane returns to the Waking Sands victorious. Only silence is there to greet him. (WoL POV)

Ao3 Link!

Start Snippet:

It was too quiet. Far too quiet for the usual subtle bustle of the cheerful port town that doubled as the Scions’ favored base of operations. And yet that was only the immediate surround of the steep stone docks of Vesper Bay, the lack of merchants’ echoes and haggling creating a suffocating silence as he strode back toward the place he’d so recently come to call home.  It was enough to make every ilm of his skin prickle, all his fur stand on end like he was a Miqo’tten whelp in the orphanage again, watching the sky fall and burn and Dalamud shatter, and terror settled in the pit of his stomach, heavier than lead. He’d only just spoken with Minfilia over the linkpearl less than thirty-six hours ago, just prior to boarding a ship from Limsa Lominsa. Was it possible something had happened in so short a time? Sometimes, he cursed the overkeen hearing of his sensitive ears. Even by Miqo’te standards he was particular about sound, catching odd whispers and echoes from yalms away on occasion and so this- silence. It clung to him like fear clung to prey. Ominous and looming.

[shadesofblades]

Fang and Claw

Au Ra August 2023: Day 13

(Stole @soulshards-ffxiv's Bites for this one! A photo of Bites and Shunbai. I imagine it was taken by Seb with @midnightmagicks' Enkh watching the whole thing go down. Just a cute little idea I had! I have no idea if photos are even canon in ffxiv)

[midnightmagicks]

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Day 17: Sally

Sally: A sudden charge out of a besieged place against the enemy; a sortie.

Night had fallen upon the trenches, the moon peeking out behind grey clouds that hung heavy in the air. The squadron was surrounded on all fronts, the Garleans having pushed through in the day, intending to take their post and undo all of the work the Resistance had made these many weeks.

Look outs posted through the darkening hours - no sleep to be had, no rest. The enemy could strike at any moment. Voices spoke in hushed whispers with one another, speaking of retreat, of falling back - others more determined, to charge forward, to fight, even if they would be destined to fail.

Lee had their back pressed to the trench, muddied and bloodied coat hanging heavy off their large frame. A whetstone in hand, as they sharpened their blade, and cast a look to their side - to the familiar Viera they had come to call a friend.

“What do you think?” She asked, her voice but a whisper.

Besides them, Siege sat nearly stock still, arms crossed over his chest. He made no motions aside from the ears atop his head that turned slowly and meticulously. Despite the darkness, his eyes were turned upward, scanning the void-like sky for any movement or distortion.  He could hear every word his men whispered among themselves. He could hear how their heartbeats thrummed in their chests at their current situation. For them, he listened beyond the trench they were pinned down in– to the battlefield surrounding them. To the low thrum of mechanical beasts and the men that controlled them. To the enemies that far outnumbered the squadron under his command.  His gaze flicked briefly to the Roegadyn beside him, who seemed to be readying themself. He exhaled slowly and returned his stare upward as he spoke lowly. “Well Lieutenant,” His voice was low, barely a rumble in his chest, “there’s nothing airborne. It’s all infantry. More machines than men. Couple of big, mean bastards, too.” His eyes snapped to his companion, intense look in his eyes. “We’re outnumbered by a sizable margin. But–” He looked down the trench. At the faces of the men and women coiled and waiting. Brave soldiers willing to live and die for this cause. A heavy moment hung before he leaned towards the lieutenant, uncrossing his arms and slowly sliding the gunblade from his back. “We’re meaner bastards. Call the command, Leitadhem.”

Lee’s gaze shifted upon her comrade, watching those dutiful ears work where there own could not. Hearing things even their look-outs could not see. A measured look to their gaze as they met the intense stare of the man before her, a soft nod of their head as gunblade was wielded in tandem with her own. A grin split across her features, as a boot braced against the earth, shifting to a crouch. “We are indeed meaner, Captain. And the night should give us some cover.”

“Then we attack, old man,” an affectionate nickname she had given the Viera over the years, said with nothing shy of respect.

Her blade came to rest against her leg, leaning to the side to speak quietly to the soldier close by, passing on the hushed whispers for men and women still able, still willing, to get ready to move. She did not need to speak the plan to her Captain, they would hear it clearly as day.

They would go east out of the trenches, staying low, and spring an attack while the enemy - hopefully - rested. They were to stay clear of any search lights, and move swiftly, kill quickly. Machines, she could deal with. Circuits to fry and tanks to explode.

As the message was passed down, soldiers began to move into position. Keeping close to the walls of the trenches, boots scuffled and weapons drawn, they awaited the Captain and the Lieutenant to lead the attack. 

Siege waited. Waited until every soldier down the line was alerted and at the ready. He did one more sweep of the sky and focused his ears in the direction they were planning to move. The enemy seemed to be at rest, as they had hoped. The sounds of battle were more sparse– far from the trench they were tucked in.  As his soldiers stilled, quietly waiting for their signal, Siege gave Lee one last look, checking to make sure they were ready. A shared look between the two. With a curt nod, Siege lifted his arm to give the order to march on. Leading the way, he stayed crouched, moving in complete silence along the trench towards their target. Heartbeats and the drumming of boots against the ground reverberating in Siege’s head. The closer they got, the more he could feel the tension in his men. And the more anger bubbled inside him. Outnumbered or not, they would emerge the victors.  He held his arm up again, giving the command to slow down. They were nearing the enemy camps and stealth was the goal now. The thrum of machines and sentries was nearly unbearable to the captain’s sensitive hearing, but he pushed his own discomfort aside. Glancing to Lee, he flicked an ear in the direction the thrum was loudest, indicating where their attention should be.  

Lee was as ready as they would ever be, the gunblade resting across her back as boots dug into the dirt. They returned that look, the nod, before the group began to move forward into the empty fields that stretched between them and the enemy; while their charge was not sudden, a sortie was needed in order to get the upper hand on the resting Garleans. It was the only way they would be able to get out of this place, alive, in enough pieces to carry on living.

Each and every soldier knew that, of course, as the squadron steadied their hearts and steadied their feet against the crunching earth as they grew closer to the location of the Garleans. As steady as they could be, knowing the odds were not stacked in their favour.

Lee’s gaze was dead ahead, only casting a sweeping gaze across to the Captain and those closest to ensure everyone looked okay, looked ready. The motion of his ear caught her attention, head canting to the side before nodding. The rest of the squad could hear the thrum of machines a little clearer themselves.

Lee motioned low with her hand, ensuring no one followed her as she scuttled off towards a rocky outcrop, bringing her blade from her back as levin began to dance around her fingers. The cartridges were charged as she moved, pumping them full of violet aether as she climbed up to a high point, spying the enemy machines as she remained ducked low.

She would have one chance to aim and fire, before the fighting would begin in full. Her gaze cast down to the squadron, settling on Seige, before she gave a nod.

Slowly, she would stand, blade raised to a point as her finger squeezed the trigger.

Siege himself held his fist near his head; A call to freeze. He watched his lieutenant creep forward towards the machines. The flicker of levin across her hands caught his eye and he curled a lip up in a slight snarl. The taste of aether burned his throat, even at this distance. But it only fueled the boiling urge to fight within his chest. His grip on the gunblade tightened and his body tensed– he was ready. Waiting for Lee’s move. He watched her stand. He knew the soldiers were watching as well. He motioned a ‘hold’ command and waited for it to pass down the line. Slowly, everyone tensed and readied themselves.  And the trigger was pulled. Electric energy blasted into a collection of the enemy's machines, arcing off and frying the circuits of anything nearby. Soldiers near the machines were either electrocuted by proximity or launched off their feets backwards as the huge pulse of condensed levin caused a chain of explosions. Chaos and confusion broke out within the camp and Siege stood, throwing his hand down and booming out, as loud as he could for his men,  “Charge!” Without hesitation or question, Siege and the squadrons charged the encampment. A portion split off to follow Siege to the main section while the remaining soldiers charged up the rocky cropping to join Lee in cleaning up the machines and their caretakers. Siege knew Lee would lead with no problem, sharing brief eye contact with her. He spoke no words but the meaning was clear. ‘Give ‘em hell, Lieutenant.’

Finger released from the trigger with a pop of energy, the bullet flying true to it’s target in a brilliant hue of violet, sparking against the first machine it hit and cascading off into the next, sending plumes of blue ceruleum clouds into the night sky as chaos ensued.

A grin found her features as they had gained the upper hand, reloading her weapon as she crouched back down, and awaited for the soldiers to join her.

Meeting Siege’s gaze with her own, steeled and calm, yet eager to spill blood upon the battlefield all the same.

The shout of charge was given, and the bulk of their forces slipped off into the foray. Lee’s gaze settled upon the capable men and women that joined her, giving them a simple nod, before raising her own fist.

“For Bozja!” 

Bracing a head against stone, they leapt over the outcrop and into the encampment with her own small squad, bullets raising hell as blade was swung, colliding with machines that still stood; levin ripping through them like spears from the heavens, leaving naught but immobile wrecks in their wake.

Soldiers split off, fanning out to clear out the enemy soldiers that yet stood, bodies coming to clash with the invading Imperials, as Lee continued her forward march into the metal monstrosities that tore up the battlefield days before.

Ducking low from a swing of mechanical claw, they slipped beneath the hull of the machine and unloaded their gunblade through it, sparks of aether zipping up it’s metal frame and short frying the circuitry - most of the machines were cleared in quick order, the Imperials that manned them taken down, killed or otherwise.

It was up to Siege and the rest to finish the job, as Lee ordered their group to rejoin the bulk of the forces and finish off the fight.

They would see the sun rise yet.

Siege and his soldiers charged forward with immense speed, yelling and battle cries drowning the sounds of violence and explosions. The cry from the other caused a ripple through the men and women at Siege’s side. A pride for their home and for the cause that led them to charge the field. And while this was not his homeland nor was it truly his cause to fight, Siege cheered right along with his men. The overwhelming spirit compelling them forward. The camp was disheveled in mere seconds. The Garlean soldiers had no warning. No prep time to combat the sudden onslaught. And, thanks to the levin-laced shots from Lee, their horrid machines were of no use or aid.  The clash of steel rang out as weapons contacted, the flurry of combat sweeping everything up in a whirlwind of bodies as the resistance laid out Garlean soldiers. A solid swing from Siege’s gunblade sent two to the ground, a snarl escaping his throat. As he stalked towards more.  More running feet had his ear swivel quickly, gaze snapping to sort out the threat when he was met with the sight of the second group of his men rejoining them. It seemed that Leitadhem had been successful on that side. A rare smirk crossed his face as he yelled to the joining soldiers. “Push on! Press the attack!” There was no doubt in Siege’s mind that they had won this fight. They would gain ground and the night would be theirs.

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