#wolbert

[wolbertweek]

WolBert Week 2024: Coming Soon!

When: October 13th - 19th Where: Primarily tumblr, but feel free to share elsewhere. Who: All WoL x Ardbert ships, whether romantic or platonic, monogamous or polyamorous, ace or spicy. What: Writing, screenshots, art, graphic edits, etc. Tags: I'll be following and reblogging from #wolbertweek2024

The Prompts

Day 1: A New Life Day 2: What If Day 3: Home Day 4: Confession Day 5: Firsts Day 6: Vacation Day 7: Free Day

Last year's prompts were very Shadowbringers-centric, this year we have a new expansion and new vibes! These prompts were selected with Dawntrail in mind, but please interpret them any way you wish.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me via inbox here at @wolbertweek or at @alannah-corvaine. ♡

[headcanons-n-shit]

Hello

Your newest post reminded me i had an idea. The bois comforting wol who is having a nervous brakedown from all the stress. Bonus Ardbert.

I really like your stories. Especially the angsty ones.

(TAZ The Breakdown plays in the background)

(Mild shadowbringers spoilers)

Thancred literally (accidentally but still) disassociated so hard from the stress that he gave up his body to the bad guy for a bit. If anyone gets what youre going through, its probably going to be him. Hes not going to waste his time on empty platitudes: hes going to get you a glass of water, a warm blanket, and a hot meal, and let you cry it out on his shoulder for as long as you need to.

(And if that still doesnt help, well. Sex is still on the table. Its rarely a good idea, but hes all out of those.)

Urianger is probably breaking down with you lets be real. Every future my mans has ever read has included world-ending catastrophe, and, sure, youve thwarted it every time (usually with his help) but. What if this time you dont? What if this time you fail???? Its an unreasonable amount of stress for one man to be carrying. He probably does a fantastic amount of fantasy weed to cope and still all it takes is seeing you break down for him to also start blubber-crying.

Graha seems kind of detached and distant at first. "Shower water food" he commands you, in the voice of Lynas grandfather the Crystal Exarch, firm and uncompromising and impossible to disobey, and you might miss the way his voice and smile are strained. The way his hands clench and unclench at his sides. Hes never regretted turning back time to help you save two worlds, but. Its times like this that he wonders if he shouldnt try again to give you a happier ending.

Estinien is a firm hand on your shoulder, a steady shoulder to lean on, because he gets it. The feeling of being trapped in your own body, puppetted by powers so much greater than you can imagine, almost greater than you can comprehend... Youre breaking down for the both of you, honestly, because hes spent so long training the iron discipline to resist nidhoggs influence that he doesnt know how to anymore. This is. Cathartic. For the both of you tbh.

Aymeric wishes in this moment, more than anything, that he could just. Just be with you. Out on your journeys, giving you support by your side instead of from a distance. And he knows, he knows, that the support he gives you is important, that his ability to move nations in your favor has helped far more than any single sword at your side ever would. But he bears the weight of a nation while you bear the weight of a star, and that just. Doesnt seem fair to him.

Haurchefant knows that theres some things that hot chocolate cant fix but. Its a good starting place if nothing else. Something warm and sweet right now couldnt hurt, neither would a soft blanket and a roaring fire. He'll sit with you, bundled up together, and just listen if thats what you need. Or he can talk-- he has plenty of embarrassing stories about Artoirel that he hasnt shared yet. Either way, he'll happily help you wipe your tears away when youre done, and then drop a delicate kiss on your forehead.

Stand tall, he says. A smile better suits a hero.

Sidurgu is surprisingly good at this. Or, maybe not so surprising? Rielle is very mature for her age, but shes still a child. He probably does this whole song and dance every other week. And you feel a little bit like a child, the way he bullies you into the shower and then bundles you up in blankets and pushes food at you, but. Beneath the gruff words and scowl you can tell hes worried. Frustrated. This is exactly the kind of injustice that as a dark knight he swore he would fight, but hes just one man, there isnt much he can do about the desolation of the star. But he also needs you to know that he'll always be in your corner. Whether in this little way or if you need him to help you kill a god, he'll always come when you call.

BONUS

Ardbert has never felt so helpless in his life. He cant touch you, cant be a shoulder you can cry on. He cant even fetch you a glass of water. All he can do is stand there and watch as you break apart in your bed in the Pendants, and its. Its torture, worse than anything any ascian could ever conceive.

Still. He does what he can. And if all he can do is sit at your bedside, his hand hovering half-through yours in a mockery of touch while he tells you stories of his adventures, or friendship and triumph and happier times, well. Its the least he can do.

[cosmodynes]

come and save us // catch us before we fall

wol/ardbert commission for jay [ timelapse here! ]

[berryzawati]

Wolbert Week 2024 Day 1: A New Life

[hoppips]

(our) days filled with joy

[emcapi-gaming]

Running a bit behind on FFXIV Poly Week, but it did give me the motivation to finally put together a pose I've been meaning to do since forever ago. (Day 1: sleeping positions)

AKA: who needs pillows when you have a femroe?

Fun facts/points of interest:

I think Zero likes sleeping curled into a little ball. It makes her feel safe.

Zero: "the world is hard and cold... and yet, this titty is... soft... and warm."

Ardwin: "zero butt :))) zero bony knees in my side :("

Physically, they can only all cuddle like this for naps, since Ardwin and Ardbert can only be separate for about an hour.

(In this particular case it's probably for the best, because Ardwin is going to have horrible pins and needles in the arm he's sleeping on, lol)

I've previously mentioned that part of Ardwin's recovery after Endwalker (plus the rest of MSQ) has been gaining weight, but the funny thing is that Ardbert has been too. Which is unexpected, since his body is more or less an aether construct. They think it's sort of a reflection of Ardwin, but also they're having two different (positive, for a change) existential crises about this, which I'll try to explain later.

[windupardbert]

finally. i can put fully updated Meringue art here. also ardbert too. also putting the first picture i drew of them under the cut for comparisons sake.

cool stuff!

[cassie-englehardt]

next to wolstinien, wolbert is my second favourite ship 🩷

[verraising]

They're on vacation. 💖

[wolbertweek]

WolBert Week 2023 is Coming!

Hello friends and fellow Ardbert enjoyers!

I've seen many wolship weeks come and go this year, but none for Ardbert, which is just criminal. So I've decided to host my own.

When is it? WolBert Week will be the first week in October and will go from Sunday, October 1st to Saturday, October 7th. Who's welcome to participate? Everyone is! Whether you ship with him romantically or platonically, whether your OC is a Warrior of Light or not, I'd love to see your Ardbert inspired content. OT3s and polycules are also welcome! What kind of content should I make? Screenshots, edits, graphics, art, writing, or anything else you can think of! What tag should I use? I'll be reblogging all content tagged with #wolbertweek2023

Here are the prompts for Wolbert Week, possibly subject to change if I think of something better before the event is here:

Day 1: Ghost Day 2: Two Worlds, One Heart / Parallels Day 3: I Cast My Lot With Yours Day 4: We Fight as One Day 5: Sacrifice / Loss Day 6: In Another Life / Alternate Universe Day 7: Free Day

This is my first time hosting any kind of community event, so if you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to contact me via inbox here at @wolbertweek or @alannah-corvaine.

Hope to see you all in October!

[headcanons-n-shit]

Can I peg the ffxiv boys 🤤🤤

Ya know? Fuck it. We horny tonight.

Adults only kiddies look away.

Yes you can peg the ff14 boys.

Thancred

EMINENTLY peggable. Just look at that little dude. Hes the height of a min height miquote. He has the 'i do anal' hairstyle. He basically wears a collar. He is literally begging to be bent over any given flat surface and pegged within an inch of his life, please and thank you.

Enthusiastic about the proposition. In fact hes probably the one to bring it up. And buy the strap. If he doesnt already have it on hand, that is.

Urianger

He has a powerpoint presentation prepared for this very moment. It includes several different poses, a fine selection of lubricants, and even an instructional video on preparation. Idk if it kills the mood or makes it hotter, thats up to you.

G'raha

Not to be reductive about miqote here, but literally if you pet his ears and pull his tail a little g'raha will roll over and let you do just about anything to him. Hes already wavering on the edge of throwing himself at your feet at any given moment, he is so eager to please you, but he definitely gets more into it than he expected.

Aymeric

Sometimes you have to look at a man in power and go, 'i can make a babygirl out of that.'

Yes you can peg him. It takes a little bit of convincing, sure, and be prepared to put the work in this man IS a pillow princess. Watch him writhe and mewl tho, halones mercy he is pretty.

Estinien

No

Jk of course. Kinda. Its just that estinien has massive trust AND body issues, youre going to have to ease him into the idea. Just take it slow and be gentle.

Haurchefant

Another one who's wholeheartedly enthusiastic about the idea of you pegging him. He happily procures everything you might need for this, from the strap to the lube to the warm towels. Although, from the way he runs his fingers over the leather of the harness, thorougly ensuring that everything is secure, neither too loose nor too tight, his fingers and eyes lingering a bit too long....

This might be hitting more than one kink for him, tbh

Sidurgu

No.

Bonus

Ardbert

I will admit: ive thought about it. A once-enemy who turns out to just be a sweet dude? A guy with golden-retriever frat-boy energy and biceps bigger than my head?

Peg this man lovingly. There better be rose petals and lavender oil involved. You both deserve gentle things. You both deserve a soft ending.

[cosmodynes]

wolbert comm for jay

[berryzawati]

The time I spend with you is so, so precious...

[alphascorpiixx]

Wolbert Week: Confessions

(Forgot to post this yesterday oops)

Unchained Memories

Lyra shares a few of her cherished memories with an unlikely companion.

Rating: G

Words: 1174

Platonic but romantic if you want I couldn't decide 🤷

Read on AO3

[snotsloth]

FFXIV Write Day 3: Tempest

Orion’s gaze drifted over the scene of the Ondo performing their devotions and up into the ruin over their heads. It was pyramidal in shape and made of the same pale substance as the other ancient ruins that dotted the sea floor. An archway took up most of each of the four sides of the structure, leaving the inside hollow. They gleamed in the low, blue-shifted light like slivers of moon, pulled into the depths by the titanic magic of the Ancients.

“I’ll go fetch the others,” Kendra said, breaking him out of his enchantment.

“Oh,” Orion tore his eyes away from the sight and turned towards Kendra’s retreating form. “Alright. Shall I come with you?”

“No need,” she waved him off without turning back to look at him.

“Enjoy your archaeological musings or whatever. I’ll be back shortly.” Orion shrugged to himself and turned back to continue watching the Ondo ceremony below.

He did not have much time to enjoy his solitude however. The amber warmth of Ardbert’s presence bloomed in the back of his skull and his shade flickered into Orion’s peripheral vision. “That crystal you showed the artisan. Was it — did it belong to Lamitt?”

Orion chuffed a quiet laugh. “Miss that, did you?” he asked. “I thought you saw everything.”

Crossing his arms, and looking away, Ardbert pouted, “I try to give you a measure of privacy. No one wans a spirit looking over their shoulder every moment of the day.”

Orion turned to smile down at him, “I genuinely don’t mind, Ardbert. I know you’ve literally nothing else to do. It’s alright for you to watch most of the time, unless I ask for privacy.”

Appeased, Ardbert returned his smile. “I will keep that in mind,” he said. “So tell me, if you would. How did you come across that crystal?”

Just the thought of Giott pushed Orion’s smile off kilter into something more wry. “So, it all started when I met this dwarf in a bar…”

It took a while for Orion to tell the entire tale of helping an alcoholic dwarf take out the sin eater Sophrosyne, his visions of Lamitt’s past, and the crystal he found after Sophrosyne’s defeat. At times the story brought Ardbert to both laughter and tears, but at the end he looked wistful. “Strange that I should learn such things now, after she’s long gone. She was my best friend, the first to travel at my side and — ” his voice cutoff. Staring off into the distance, he absentmindedly rubbed his hand over where his breastplate still shielded his unbeating heart.

Silence hung heavy in the stagnant, humid air, only broken by the susurration of the Ondo’s prayers in the distance. Orion found himself thinking of his own lost companions, Minfilia’s smile, Moenbryda’s laugh, the way Haurchefant would sweep Kendra off her feet and bring a blush to her button nose, the fire of conviction in Ysayle’s eyes, and G’raha. Bright and curious and bold G’raha who had loved him. Who had essentially died, believing that love completely unrequited. He sighed heavily through his nose.

Ardbert shuffled closer to Orion’s side, the ephemeral sensation of his spiritual presence was like a campfire, seeping warmth into Orion’s bones. “I didn’t expect death to teach me so much,” Ardbert said, breaking their mutual melancholy silence. “About Lamitt, about Seto — about you. About the hope that lies at the heart of this world. I’ve never been one for idle chitchat, but if by some miracle I could see them all again, I doubt I would never stop talking.”

“It is the curse of those left behind to dwell on all the conversations left unsaid,” Orion said. “If I could — ” he cut himself off with another sigh, struggling to put into words the mixed feelings of grief, affection, and regret that gripped his throat whenever he looked up at the Crystal Tower. “I have lost my fair share of comrades in my travels. Each one’s absence aches differently, but the sharpest pain is the memory of a boy who loved me, and who I couldn’t love back. In idle moments, I catch myself wondering; would I have returned his affections if I knew how little time we had — he had? When I’m honest with myself I answer no. Not in the way he would have wanted. Not in a way that would have changed anything.”

Orion shifted to look down at Ardbert, meeting his eyes. “You loved Lamitt with all your heart in the way that you could. She knew that. It hurt, but you didn’t hurt her, Bear. You meant the world to her, even though she knew you would never look at her the way she wanted you to. She chose to stand at your side to the end because the way that you did love her was more than worth the pain.”

Still staring up into his face, Ardbert brushed his spectral fingers through Orion’s. It felt like the pins and needles of a limb falling asleep. “I’m grateful I got to bend your ear at least,” Ardbert said. “And just for that, I reckon I’ll stick with you.”

“Just for that?” Orion teased, hunting for flattery.

“Well, that and I’ve nothing better to do,” Ardbert rolled his eyes.

“I hate how you’re stuck like this,” Orion said, “but I’m selfishly glad to know you’ll be there at my side, whatever awaits us in the depths.”

“I’m here,” Ardbert said, “to the very end.”

[emcapi-gaming]

"So you're here to try and save the world?" She gives a single, bitter laugh. "Bit late for that. I mean, I appreciate the thought, but it's not worth it. This place is too far gone. You're just gonna get yourself killed - or worse."

"I've come this far, haven't I? I have to try."

"…Just what this place needs, another stubborn heroic dumbass." She shakes her head. "There's no arguing with you, is there."

"You've got that much right."

"Well. If you don't mind the extra company, I might as well follow you around and yell at you when you're about to do something particularly stupid. Sure could have used that, myself. Besides, it sounds more interesting than moping my way across every square ilm of Norvrandt like I've been doing."

Ardbert chuckles. "I've seen some pretty strange things, but I think being yelled at by a ghost would be a new one. Sure. Why not? Although I'll have to try and explain you to my friends, lest they assume I've started talking to myself."

(fun facts/notes/lore under cut as usual!)

Originally this was supposed to be part of a poly week prompt (combination of role/outfit swap + alternate universe) but I never got around to the other part with Zero. Ah well! I'm still happy with how this turned out.

I think the most interesting part of this shot + bonus drabble was thinking about some of the ways they're different! They have, frankly, an absurd amount of things in common - most of which were unintentional! - but I like exploring how they differ as individuals also.

In this case: Ardbert is way more of a (justifiably) grumpy little shit here in canon, lol. Between the two of them, he definitely has more of a temper and is more likely to default to anger as a reaction. Ardwin will absolutely snap if pushed, but outside of battle, she is, by comparison, a little more patient and willing to laugh things off or pretend they don't bother her. (Although her tendency to bottle things up comes with its own issues.)

Some of that difference is just down to different hormonal systems. (I have it on good authority from my husband that going on T shifted his default emotional response when upset from being sad/crying to getting angry.) However, some of it is just that: a personal difference!

Thinking about it a little more, maybe Ardwin would be a bit more expressive in this AU. I think that Heavensward, in particular, amplified her pre-existing tendency to repress her shit and Not Talk About It, because Alphinaud and Tataru were really relying on her to be their anchor. She absolutely did not wanna burden them with her own problems. (Let alone the whole, uh, "a smile better suits a hero" bit, which, come to think of it, also absolutely did not help.)

In this AU, though, Ardwin would have been running around with Ardbert's friends. This means she no longer would have been the only Warrior of Light, or the only one being relied on to be The Strong One (given that between Branden, Cylva, and Ard___, the First WoLs have 3 tanks lmao). She definitely would still feel like she should be the stoic leader, but they would probably successfully (lovingly) bully her into talking about her feelings every so often, so she doesn't end up with the Pit of Emotional Repression in the same way.