#you get it right? right? at least that's what i take away from endwalker

[picaroroboto]

actually i lied the real crowning moment of Endwalker is the final Zenos battle. because what could be better than defeating the embodiment of despair in a battle to prove the worth of existence, literally the highest stakes possible, and then turning around and fighting your rival. not to save the world or because anyone asked you to but just because you want to. because it's fun.

Fighting just for the sake of fighting - because you can, because you find it fun and meaningful, because it's part of who you are. Adventuring just for the sake of adventuring, living for the sake of living.

[ishgard]

Presenting: An Absurdly, Stupidly Long and Wordy Warrior of Light-based Questionnaire, or as my bestie dubbed it:

30 WoL Think Thonkers

Less an ask prompt, more of a daily prompt, (though you can use it as an ask prompt if you prefer!) Answer the questions however you want: straight-forward, with stories or screens, or a mix of all.

Get any of your little brainworms out. Wax poetic, ramble off into several digressions, challenge yourself to answer in the least amount of words possible, whatever you're vibing with! (If you want to tag them #wolthinkthonkers feel free!)

This is very Warrior of Light and MSQ based. It's set from a Post-Endwalker mindframe, so there are some minor/vaguely worded spoilers.

----------------------- WARM-UP QUESTIONS

I. Where is your Warrior of Light from? What was their home like growing up and what set them out on their journey?

2. What city-state did your WoL start in? How did they feel about it then, and how do they feel about it now? (ie, did their experiences sour their perception, or make them appreciate it more?)

3. How do they feel about being Hydaelyn's chosen? (Feel free to break it down from ARR's "Champion of Eorzea" all the way to "The Savior of Etheirys" as much as you like. Have those feelings changed, or just grown more complex?)

4. What do they do in their down time? Do they have any hobbies outside of Primal-slaying and world-saving? Are these lifelong hobbies or recent interests?

5. How do they feel now that "it's all over" (the story of Hydaelyn and Zodiark)? What do they plan to do next? Or is their story finished - and if you're retiring them, what does retirement look like for them? Do you have someone else taking the stage going forward?

6. Who was their Azem? What were they like, and were they different from your WoL? Who were their family, friends? Or, if you don't care for the Azem angle or went in your own direction for their past self, how so? How does your WoL feel about their Ancient identity?

----------------------- CHANGES

7. Have they gone through any physical changes? What scars have they collected, and how do they feel about them? Did they sprout horns or other features as a result of spells or pacts gone wrong? How did light corruption impact them? Or have they walked away miraculously unscathed? Are they more peculiar for how eerily unmarred they are?

8. What is one of their biggest regrets? Has it had an effect on how they act moving forward, for better or worse?

9. The Warrior of Light has been through quite a lot, but what is a moment, big or small, that bolstered and renewed their spirit? Was it a cup of hot cocoa or a lovingly crafted sandwich? Did someone give them a few words or a gesture at just the right time that meant the world to them? (Of course, this can be a canon event or headcanon!)

10. What does home look like for them now? Do they still return to the home where they started, and if so has it changed at all? Or have they found or forged a new home? Who do they live with, if anyone? What sort of things do they keep in their personal space?

11. Despite everything, is it still you? Has the core of who they are as a person remained true through everything, or have they been changed by what they've experienced and learned, for better or worse?

13. Is there a canon moment you've drastically (or not-so-drastically) rewritten? A character death, or something that just really did not fit your WoL's character. Or just some alterations and personal touches you've added? Has that had any long-term changes on the wider story?

----------------------- STORY

12. Which canon moments shaped your Warrior of Light and impacted them the most?

14. Do you have any headcanons for what happened post-Ultima Thule? What kind of injuries did they suffer, or did they walk it off like a boss? Did they take a lengthy vacation, did you shove a time skip in there before 6.1 hit? Or was it quickly off to the next adventure?

15. What were their thoughts and feelings on the events of Myths of the Realm? How did they regard the Twelve prior, and how did the revelations impact them? Was meeting their patron particularly special to them, or not really?

16. What were their thoughts and feelings delving into Pandaemonium? How did they feel working alongside Themis and Lahabrea, after all their history? What did they think about how things ended?

17. Taking a step away from "canon", do you have any wholly unique side quests and adventures your Warrior of Light has gotten caught up in? Did they chase down ghosts of their own past, get married, open a bakery, or fix an ancient blood curse on their family line? Have they reunited with loved ones or buried old hatchets? If there's some unique story behind your character, how does it show up and how did it play out?

----------------------- COMBAT & ABILITIES

18. How do they feel about the work they do? As the Warrior of Light they're tasked with quite a lot of violence, is it something that comes naturally to them or do they resist it? Are they merciless, do they try to spare as many lives as they can, or do they fall somewhere in between?

19. While many fights are dramatic or have high stakes, are there any especially memorable or difficult fights they encountered? Outside scripted battles, were there conflicts that you thought felt better if they were tweaked for narrative or lore-based reasons, ie their first time fighting a primal? Or perhaps a more meta "You the player had a hard time so it translated into headcanon for them".

20. Are there any unique abilities that they possess outside of what's in-game? Are they actually a dragon, or do they see visions of the future? Or, is there a special way that their Echo manifests?

21. Jobs! What job is your character and why is that the route they chose? Is your WoL a Jack-of-all-Trades, or just have one (or a few) specialties? Did they start with one job and change to another? Have you 'homebrewed' their job at all, adding any unique twists or details to it?

----------------------- RELATIONSHIPS & THE WORLD

22. What are their feelings on the Scions? Who are some of their closest allies and dearest friends? Are they more of a loner, or closer to people outside the Scions? Have they kindled any romances or partnerships?

23. How do they feel about getting pulled into politics? Are they adept at navigating political intricacies, or does it go over their head? Do they appreciate getting asked to do more than punch their enemies, or would they really rather just punch their enemies? Are there any areas they like to be particularly involved in?

24. How do they feel about Hydaelyn? What was their perception of the Mothercrystal in the beginning, and how did that change by the end, if at all?

25. Do they have any particular enemies that stand out to them? Someone who inspired a lasting grudge? Our beloved and beloathed antagonists give us plenty of reasons to despise them, but are there any that particularly rubbed your WoL the wrong way? On the other hand, are there villains they can't help but sympathize with, even if it's at odds with the narrative or their allies?

26. What are their thoughts on the Ancients, their way of life, and the world they lived in? Did they sympathize at all with the Ascians, or did learning the truth not influence them in that way?

27. How well known are they? Does everyone know their name as the Warrior of Light, or have they managed to maintain some level of anonymity? Do they prefer it that way, and do they have any struggles resulting from it? (Getting stopped on street corners VS awkwardly avoiding questions.)

----------------------- WHAT'S NEXT

28. What's something they look forward to? Exploring the stars, more of a place we've already been, or somewhere we haven't? Or do they look forward to retirement, starting a business with their craft of choice, or any other little old thing?

29. How do they feel heading into Dawntrail? Excited? Exhausted? What do they think of the promises of adventure to come, and their role to play? If you're using a new character, do you have any idea how they'll end up on this path, and where is their headspace starting out?

30. What are they going to be doing while waiting for the ship to Tural?

[contentiousprince]

y'know. i like that Zenos died on his own terms. but also the fact that he gets the same resolution in endwalker that he does in stormblood kind of drives me insane. like in stormblood he gets to take his own life after achieving what he believed to be the greatest joy he could ever have.

but then in endwalker he gets so much more development, and while i absolutely love the fight with him at the end there, letting him die on his own just kind of validates what Alisaie said about him dying alone. which like if they wanted to show he was incapable of change because of being too far gone or whatever then fine, the community can fix it fanfic our way into giving him happiness, but he very clearly does react to Alisaie! he very clearly thinks about what she says, and his dialog before your fight with him really suggests that he's come away with at least a bit of a new perspective on the matter.

it just strikes me as odd to not just bring him back as a villain, but very explicitly someone who is neither hero nor villain, who at first works entirely selfishly for his own goals, but by the end he's helping you out and doesn't even make you fight him despite the being the reason he was selfishly going along with the whole plan to end the entire world in the first place!!!!!! and then after all of that, what has really meaningfully changed from stormblood?

Zenos is still dead, it being by your hands rather than his own i don't think really affects all that much. the wol probably got character development but i feel like it being for that sole reason is weird. Zenos learning, and even changing, just to be set right back to where he was before is just so weird to me.

[myreia]

fic authors self rec

When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Spread the love ❤️

I was tagged by @lilbittymonster to fill this out, thank you so much!

I'm a little late with this, but I'll tag a few folks (I think this is going around as an ask meme, too?). If you've already been asked or tagged, I'd love to see a second selection of your favourites! 💖

@bearlytolerant @tsunael @anneapocalypse @ievaxol @ardberts

@fourteenthz @birues @thewitchofelpis @a-shakespearean-in-paris @thevikingwoman

@impossible-rat-babies @autumnslance @gatheredfates @hylfystt

—01. Divergence of the Heart

Final Fantasy XIV | Heavensward | Wolmeric, Wolcred + background Thancred/Hilda Explicit | 53,996 words | 11 chapters

Aureia Malathar may have made a name for herself in Ishgard, but her deeds come with a hefty personal toll. Despite her victories at the Grand Melee she has never felt more unsure of herself. Her relationship with Thancred—the person she thought knew her the best—is strained, yet she cannot abandon him. Aymeric is falling for her harder with each passing day, yet she cannot bring herself to accept it. All may be fair in love and war, but at least war is predictable. Love, on the other hand…

I wrote this fic last year and it quickly became both extremely personal and also one of my favourite things I've ever written. It's also me poking fun at myself for creating what is probably the worst love triangle based off a couple lines of in-game dialogue from Thancred.

But I think the thing that makes it special to me isn't the love triangle or the emotional entanglements or the drama, it's exploring the different facets of Aureia's asexuality as a sex-positive and greyace person. This is a pretty complex topic and asexuality isn't as straightforward as "no sex ever". I also wanted to approach the erotic scenes with a certain sensibility and pull back the curtain on the romanticism of first times in search of something a little more grounded.

—02. Bound by Faith

Final Fantasy XIV | Shadowbringers | Wolcred Explicit | 28,406 words | 5 chapters

With their enemies defeated, the Crystarium is alive with celebration. Despite the joy around her, Aureia is uncertain about the next steps to take. So is Thancred, for that matter. The puzzle of their lives has sat incomplete for years, but finally this last, precious piece may be able to slide into place.

Okay so. 🥺 This was the first big Aureia/Thancred piece that I finished. I wrote it when I was going through an extremely rough time last year, and I think it was cathartic in a way to have them have all the right things come together so that taking a chance on a relationship finally feels right.

—03. As We Move Forwards

Final Fantasy XIV | Endwalker | Wolcred Mature | 8,140 words | 2 chapters

With tragedy averted and the world in recovery, Thancred and Aureia finally have some time to themselves. It’s nice—good even—to spend time alone, focusing on the things that matter most. But as they depart on a trip across Ilsabard, the question of what comes next lingers in his mind. Where do you go from here? How do you pick up the pieces of something broken and put it back together?

This is a much more recent Aureia/Thancred fic than the previous ones, and I'm enjoying poking at their Endwalker timeline. So much happens. Many things have been said and done, and their marriage has been put through the wringer. It was fun to explore what moving on looks like when they came so close to everything falling apart due to the pressures of outside circumstances. Marriage for them is not a happy ever after, it's just another point on the journey and they both still have a lot of growing to do.

—04. Resistance

Dragon Age: Origins | Tabris x Daveth Explicit, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death | 25,370 words | 7 chapters

Numbed by the events that took her away from Denerim, Rhea Tabris arrives in Ostagar to become a Grey Warden. But as she prepares for initiation and encounters an unexpected person, she discovers she can never truly let her past die.

I think this is my favourite DA fic back from when I used to write a lot of DA stuff. I don't know what it is about the Tabris x Daveth ship, it's such a rarepair but my mind latched onto the possibility and wanted to shake it up and down like a salt shaker and see what fell out. Angst and smut, apparently.

—05. Leave Me At the Shore of the Heart

Dragon Age 2 | Bethany Hawke x Anders Mature | 9,332 words | 4 chapters

On the eve of the Deep Roads expedition, a chance conversation between Anders and Bethany sparks feelings neither of them expected.

This one is special to me because it's the last DA fic I wrote. I'm not entirely sure what possessed me to write this ship, but I was turning a few things over in my head while playing DA2 and I just had a thought about the possibilities of character interactions — tl;dr the conversation I made up in my head was interesting and I needed to follow it haha.

[nihilnovisubsole]

phew! finally a weekend where i can set aside enough time to type up The Promised Endwalker Stream-of-Consciousness Post. i finished the base story... a month ago? but work has been busy, and i think tumblr benefits from me being quiet sometimes. anyway, what a ride. when you've been building up to the end of your arc for a decade, you want to hit it like an earthquake, and that's exactly what they did.

i think people love endwalker because it fires on all cylinders. it returns - in both story and vision - to the eorzea we love, and the dev team gets to show off everything they've learned. the dungeons and boss fights are dynamic and imaginative and colorful and bring the game's epic sense of scope to bear. the story callbacks are juicy. the music is orchestral again. we're back home, and we're saving the galaxy. what's better than this?

i love that we go to garlemald. i don't - i mean, you know, i don't like garlemald. i shouldn't have to qualify that. but it's hugely narratively satisfying to see the face of the enemy we've been fighting since the first few hours of ARR. you don't think about them when you're beating them up in castrum centri or ala mhigo. they're star wars bad guys. then you meet them on their own turf. you observe firsthand how they starve and cannibalize their own people to feed their obsession with state power and military strength. the wintry environment makes it seem all the more barren and desperate. my favorite part by far. i wish we'd spent more time there.

actually, on that note:

there is an argument that endwalker should've been two expacs. i've heard similar about stormblood - ala mhigo should've been the whole thing, and doma should've been either patch content or an expac of its own. the prevailing theory is that, after ARR, the devs are afraid of letting arcs run long. i can't speak to that, but i wouldn't have minded, that's for sure!

i won't pretend not to be biased. i've noted in many xiv posts that it hurries through its political plots to get to the magic stuff. i felt more conscious of it in heavensward and especially in stormblood. i made peace with it in endwalker. with dessert this good, who am i to complain? i can do small character drama on my own time. for now, the game wants royce to be a big damn shonen hero, and that can be fun, too.

speaking of characters, urianger and estinien have grown on me. this is the arc where, for me at least, the scions have congealed. they're all good, but with any large cast and custom player character, you tend to form the meatiest bonds with a few specific ones. i think royce appreciates urianger's cooler, more mature head. they're both so formal. he realizes she's someone he can confide in. i think she sees estinien as a gifted, but hotheaded whelp, which i find very funny. patience, child. stop sulking. do your breathing drills.

i love thancred's MGS sequence and in from the cold too. they're stressful, but i love that the team tried, you know what i mean? the fact that you can fight enemies in a pinch makes those duties way more bearable than some other games that experiment with stealth.

in from the cold as a whole, honestly. If You Know, You Know

all right, i can't avoid referencing spoilers anymore, sorry. there's a sense of classical tragedy to the whole elpis sequence. it's like watching macbeth or hamlet. you know how it's going to end, and you know you're powerless to stop it, but if they'd just made that different choice! but we had to leave eden. the warrior of light had to end up where they are to finish what elpis started. i don't do fate/destiny plots, but this? i'll take it.

i also knew what would happen going into ultima thule and still came away from it moved. it's strong writing. that's all there is to it. sure, the visuals are haunting, but the dialogue has to sell a gauntlet of difficult character moments, and it pulls it off. on the design side, there's some interesting intentional friction that forces you to linger in the zone and sit with its sense of despair. that part where you have to search the empty park for signs of life? oof

with the majority of the MSQ under my belt, i started sniffing around for what else there is to do ingame. i tried ninja. did terribly. i tried sage. did terribly too, but at least that gave me access to the healer role quests, which, ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°). the nier raids are gorgeous. i even did the controversial werlyt quests, and terncliff is so cute. i kind of wish we could have another story there!

what's next? i dunno! right now i'm burning through the hildibrand quests before i continue on with endwalker's patch story. the field operation stuff seems interesting to do after the MSQ, in a "hey, you saved the world, but we have more missions for you" way. i've also contracted Triple Triad Collector Disease, so that'll keep me busy for a long time.

all right. one last thing. Real Gamer Moments: i was in a mount-farming party recently, and i said that i sort of collected mounts, but only used the ishgardian chocobo. it's a roleplay thing - it's the chocobo royce took when she ran away from ishgard. one of the party members said "haurchefant would be proud of you." AUGH

[yzeltia]

FFXIVwrite2024 10. Stable

Featuring: Weird West AU by @scrollsfromarebornrealm Characters: Zellita(Y'ze Tia), Claudien Expansion: Endwalker (Context) Rating: T Summary: Zellita and Claudien make their feelings clear. Notes: N/A

A whimper sounded out over the rustling of feathers, kwehs, and pecking of gryshal greens. Zellita found himself pinned against a bale of hay, shirt tattered and Claudien’s fangs in his neck. The hunger seemed to be rising in Claudien day by day and with his family in town and the increasing interest in Stonewood he had found it difficult to hunt and Zellita was all too eager to compensate.

“Enough,” Zellita breathed out, hand raking up the back of Claudien’s hair to weakly tug on him to part.

Claudien pulled away reluctantly, licking carefully about the punctures on his lover’s neck before dragging his tongue to his collar so as to not waste a single drop. Zellita shook then collapsed into Claudien’s arms, unable to stand well. “You cannot keep offering yourself to me. I’m going to go too far,” Claudien said softly, lowering Y’zel into the hay under them before getting into his satchel and pulling out an orange. He tore into the peel with his fangs then lifted his love gingerly before bringing it to his lips to make him take a bite.

Zellita whimpered then took a nibble of the orange before taking generous bites. “I will be fine as long as you maintain control and are ready to take care of me after,” he said, closing his eyes to lightly lick Claudien’s fingers clean of the orange’s juices.

“What if I cannot maintain control? What if I-,” Claudien started only to be silenced as Zellita’s finger pressed against his lips.

“Silence,” he said, casting a brief cantrip over the other. “No more of this angst. You are so wound up about this every time that you’ve not once taken it too far. Your family will depart and the town will settle and you’ll be able to find other sources to feed from safely. For now, take it as my dedication to you.”

Claudien furrowed his brow, feeling the magick bind his voice. In frustration, he dropped the orange then took the other by the jaw and gave him a rough impassioned kiss, sweet fruit juice mixing with the metallic remnants of Zellita’s blood. Pulling back, he pressed his forehead to the other’s. “I love you,” he admitted softly, jolting slightly as his voice returned.

Zellita flushed deeply then leaned into Claudien, rubbing his face against the man’s chest as he touched the bite on his neck. “I love you too…,” he said before leaning away to rest his back against the stable wall, trying to bunch his torn shirt over his exposed chest. “I cannot go out like this. Perhaps a little more restraint could be used. At least as far as my wardrobe is concerned.”

“Right…Sorry…,” Claudien apologized, wincing as he tugged off his shirt to hand over. Stepping back, he pulled off his boots then lowered his trousers and boxers, giving them to Zellita as well before letting out a painful grunt as his bones began to crack while blond fur erupted all over his body. He fell forward onto his paws, back arching as his tail erected behind him and then swished dust about the barn. Looking at Zellita, he gave him a low bark then sat to wait for the other to redress himself so that he could lead him back to the library.

[crownonacat]

Prompt: Zip

(Or otherwise how to speed run all ascian bullshit without gaining crippling depression from losing friends

Or otherwise How to Make an Ass out of an Ascian

Or otherwise This Time White Moves First)

-

For context I wanted to write a cracky sort of what would happen if all the WoLs from people I know were to end up in I guess canon(?) ffxiv way back in the beginning? Specifically after Endwalker halfway into their time off before dawntrail WoLs so this is wholly self indulgent and features a lot of friends OCs just for fun

Also featuring a fix-it just cause and also for fun and profit (and also to drive the Ascians up the wall)

Spoilers: For the whole game until EW; this is technically part 1 I will be writing more as I go and then post it on AO3 maybe later cause this got uh Long

(Also do you know the feeling of losing all your formatting cause you wrote everything on your phone yeah ;-;)

Clow wakes up with an awful taste in his mouth and with the feeling like Titan had decided to sit directly on top of his head. If that wasn't enough to tell him he's not wheres he's supposed to be, the fact that he's leaned up against a wall in an alley in rags as well as the empty bottles of what is most definitely the cheapest gil can buy in good old Ul'dah with not a weapon or soul stone on him definitely make the case for him. He's also, for some reason, completely barefoot.

He doesn't drink. Not since Nanamo a decade or so ago.

So he'd forgotten, he thought wincing as he put one arm on the wall to at least get himself kneeling if not at least partially off the ground, how much of a bitch hangovers were. And how bloody bright and annoying the sun could be when it felt like a Morbol had passed away inside his mouth.

Right.

--

The Adventurers Guild had sounded like a decent idea as any to figure out how he'd landed up in Ul'dah of all places. Yes, the rags were a bit much, but surely it was all a misunderstanding of some kind or at the very least talking with someone would let him know how he'd ended up here when the last thing he'd remembered was conking out in Garlemald after making a visit to check on the twins.

The sharp look as well as the terrible facsimile of a polite smile on Momodi's face - sign number seven or thereabouts that something has gone horribly, horribly wrong- when he walks into the Adventurer's Guild though give him second thoughts. The sneering Roegadyn two whole fulms taller than him dressed in full set of armor with a sword the length of his torso that gets called over give him more second thoughts. Enough second thoughts that Clow - even with a headache and a sour mouth and no shoes - makes an about face almost immediately and walks through the door faster than he walked in.

Right.

--

He finds himself seated at the alleyway again leaned up against the wall and watching people walk by feeling awful, smelling quite awful, and with no clues whatsoever.

Further investigation among the empty bottles of piss masquerading as drinks turned up bone hora - again the cheapest gil could buy - that had still seemed decent enough and his Adventurer's plate scuffed with dirt but otherwise fine. No shoes though. And surprisingly, or unsurprisingly based on the general trend of awful that this whole morning has been, an empty gil pouch. Namely, his empty gil pouch.

Now.

Clow would never say he's rich in gil. That statement can be made about a great many people he knows and is, rather lovingly, rather terrified of (and what does it say that quite a few of them tend to be about knee height lalafells who looks like butter wouldn't melt in their mouths until you take a second gander at them and see the shark teeth). Not rich however is malms away from not dirt poor. So poor cannot buy shoes poor. Penniless poor.

He does however know how to stop being penniless poor and it's about this moment when a Hyur gladiator walks out of the Adventurers Guild muttering under his breath about not having enough people for a quest - some sort of subjugation for the mines near Horizon.

Clow is not ashamed to admit that he damn near ran the man over trying to get to him fast enough.

--

He has shoes. Sandals really and a new piece of leather armor that will likely help with all the coblyns and the spriggans and the giant jelly that likes the middle floor halfway through Copperbell but shoes.

His tail starts wiggling if he thinks about it too long.

Technically they're both being lent to him by the Hyur who introduces himself eventually as one Meteor "I think" - after screaming which was honestly quite fair, Clow may have been a bit too overzealous in how he'd approached him.

Making his case about being hired on as another adventurer while being hungover and generally awful was something that he worried about after immediately springing the guy, but, turns out headache or no, with enough motivation you can Thunderclap to just about anyone and, turns out, that frightening someone with martial ability to then ask them if they'd be interested in taking him to then use that frightening martial ability to dispatch some coblyns or what have you might be very convincing.

But shoes! And armor!

That he'd be able to get for free along with part of the quest reward!

The joy of clothes and the promise of gil lasts him through the first elevator ride into the mines and through the initial encounters with what is a really angry pack of coblyn. And then he's too busy bring horribly, terribly confused.

See it's not that he'd never visited Copperbell after the whole business with the hecatoncheires. Arguably both Copperbell and Haukke Manor tended to crop up fairly regularly as dispatch requisitions as the mines themselves needed to be kept clear or anything really dangerous for the Miner's Guild to work there and Haukke Manor tended to attract voidsent regularly. Something something void gates wasier to make there something something. But in the case of the mines they'd either have to approach newer sections or go through old previously detonated areas to check if it's clear and he's fairly certain that he'd seen these parts of the mines before despite the fact that there are no signs of detonations anywhere. He dismisses the feeling as a freak case of deja vu in the beginning but as they start to blow up more and more walls with firesand he starts to feel like this is that first requisition all over again.

And then Gyges the Great who should also be the Dead but isn't breaks through a wall with his giant hammer screaming something about being free and he's too busy dodging to focus on the realization that this is the first quest into Copperbell from years and years ago. Which begs a question that Clow forgot to check the answer to because he'd thought the answer was obvious: What the hell is the year?

When they get on one of the mine shaft elevators to go back up to surface he asks. The other two - a Hrothgar conjurer that looks like they desperately need to lie down by the name of Farrah and a Lalafell archer with the name Yaya Yaniya who looks like they're still shaking from their encounter with Gyges - look at him like his mouth is making sounds they don't understand. He doesn't take it personally; Yaya had gotten almost flattened by Gyges' hammer. Frankly he's surprised she's still upright at all.

Meteor says a number in a way that sounds like he's either baffled someone's asking for the year or like he's just as shocked by the number and is still trying to convince himself of the year also. Clow's eyes roll over while trying to contend with the fact he's ten years somewhere else and, he's getting the horrible inkling, someone else.

He's not the one who took the quest from Momodi, Meteor is. From his own adventurers plate - which reads Koh'a Molkot god he's going to need a name change no wonder Momodi had been very confused when he asked for the record for the requisition to be put under Clow instead - he can tell he's not the new adventurer being asked to do missions by the owners of the different Adventurer Guilds across Eorzea, Meteor is. And that means-

He has no idea what that means.

Clow gets paid for his help in the Adventurer's Guild still dazed enough that Momodi's frowning and squinting don't really register.

He asks for a room that's very hesitantly granted to him after a long silence and watches through the inn window as Meteor deals with a merchant and then Thancred in very quick succession - and it is Thancred, or old Thancred with the carefree smile and the daggers instead of the gunblade.

He knows he's staring and the little waggle of fingers and raised eyebrow aimed at him after Meteor ambles off tells him Thancred knows that he'd had an audience but Twelve. Twelve.

Right. Fine.

--

The worst possible thing he could do right now is go to Vesper Bay.

The absolute stupidest thing to do would be to end up in Vesper Bay gawping at the Waking Sands while trying really hard not to gawp at the Waking Sands.

So of course he finds himself a couple minutes later in that very same Vesper Bay after a quick sprint down from Horizon (which forking over gil for that aetheryte travel Sucked but there's a panicked creature in his chest that makes giving it away to get to Vesper Bay as fast as possible the easier thing to do) telling himself that no, going to the Waking Sands when no one knows who he is after the Scions spymaster caught him snooping on a conversation with a potential recruit is a bad, awful, horrible idea. He's very tempted to go against all good sense and do it anyway (when was the last time he saw Papalymo or Minfilia or thought after them in a fashion that wasn't heavily tinted with the guilt of losing them; had he ever really known either of them-) so it's probably for the best that when Y'shtola of all people walks out of the Waking Sands a small hand closes around his wrist and pulls him across the street into the bar nearby.

The relief of managing to get away is larger than the initial suspicion he feels but it doesn't take very long to place the face even if the fact that he can at all just leads to more questions, "...I-uh- Lemons?"

"Hi Clow!" Lemons says brightly, and it is Lemons down to the purple hair and the face tattoo just younger the same way Clow is younger despite the fact they should not be younger let alone in the same universe at all.

"What are you-"

"I have no idea!"

"Oh."

"Yeah!"

"How did you..?"

"The same way as you probably!"

"Right."

"Probably!" Lemons says brightly.

Right.

--

Lemons takes one look at the sad sack of gil he has-

"What happened. "

"I thought you said the same thing that happened to you?"

"Clow I had more than- is that exactly two hundred gil? You had exactly two hundred gil-"

"I had more than two hundred!"

"And-"

"So what you're telling me is you didn't wake up hungover in an alley-"

"Clow-"

- and buys them both a glass of orange juice. And then he buys Clow a sandwich after Clow's stomach remembers that it hasn't eaten today and decides to protest loudly and violently to the general public.

It's after when Clow feels marginally more like a person and Lemons has stopped making faces at him from across the table that Clow gestures vaguely around him, "When did you get here? Or well- how long have you been-"

"About a week or so - I think."

"I think?"

"Well" Lemons hums, "I was half covered in cow intestine when I- landed? I guess?"

"UH-"

"I still had gil on me! And I don't think I was - what's the word - participating?"

"With the cow intestines", Clow says squeakily.

"Yes, with the cow intestines. Kinda difficult to do that when you're tied to a rock. And there were weird chanting guys in hoods. And a giant voidsent statue and- anyway! I found a staff near me so I had a focus but no sword. And y'know how I feel about black magic alone just", Lemons wrinkles his nose before suddenly beaming, "I made it work though!"

Clows nearly too afraid to ask. He feels his mouth open and close a few times before he croaks, "And, how...?"

Lemons smiles sunnily back at him, "You know how if you stab something hard enough-"

And listens in abject horror as Lemons describes what is most undoubtedly the grisly deaths of some cult idiots who'd accidentally ended up with a Warrior of Light as their sacrifice. With sound effects. And hand gestures. Too many hand gestures.

"Anyway then some adventurers came by and they helped wrap up things pretty quickly. After, I hopped on a chocobo carriage to get here because...", Lemons trails off his face turning a little wry as he shrugs. Clow knows the feeling - it's why he was here instead of in the inn he'd gotten for the night. Why he's here even if one of the Scions could catch him gawking outside.

"You wanted to see if they were alright."

"...yeah."

There's a moment of silence between them where they feel a little at a loss; being nearly ten years out of time and out of space would do that.

It's only then that Clow realizes with a weird feeling of the same deja vu he felt earlier in the mines- "Wait, you said cult? And giant voidsent statue? So this all happened in-"

"The Tam-tara Deepcroft yeah. The supposedly no longer cult harboring Tam-Tara Deepcroft", Lemons nods grimly.

Well in for a gil, Clow thinks.

"Did you ever get their names? The adventurers I mean."

"Yeah, why?"

"Were any of them a Hyur by the name of Meteor?"

"Yeah", Lemons said slowly before squinting at him, "Why?"

Right.

--

They leave the bar. For one thing, Lemons' story seemed to have attracted some unneeded attention-

(- "They like my sound effects!"

"We all like your sound effects Lemons."

"More people appreciating my sound effects isn't a bad thing Clow.") and some wide eyed looks from the average passerby. And by that Clow means hes taking pity on the fact that he saw someone hear the way Lemons described just how much viscera he'd had on him and turn green. There was also the problem of whether they had any unaccidental passerby were around;

Clow doesn't want any particular rogues listening in and trying to make more sense of what was spoken than they have already. Also because he's not sure if push came to shove he'd be able to find where Thancred was even if he actively looked. At least by walking away he'd have the benefit of being able to better spot if they had any suspicious incidental listeners.

For another thing talking about the possibility that they're in a place where they could possibly help another person not go through any of the trials and tribulations they went through and stop the near end of the Universe early is probably not something they want to do in a bar filling up with people after a days work. Even if some people don't agree on that being a possibility.

"Listen, I'm not saying its not whats going on. Just- it doesn't make any sense."

Clow sighs, "I never said it made sense. I said that just maybe-"

"I know what you said. Its just- it doesn't make any sense!"

"Still doesn't change the fact that two of the same things that happened to us way back when is now happening to someone else."

"Well", Lemons says at last, "Okay, say it is what you say it is- in a way, this is good right?"

Clow blinks, "What is?"

"Well we have each other instead of, y'know. Not that I mind the whole "being summoned to kill things" thing and then hitting the closest spot for snacks before we just kinda get kicked out-"

"True", Clow says smiling. Lemons grins back before continuing, "And we know what happens- later, right?"

"Yes...?"

"And so we can- you ever just wanted to see what colors their faces could turn?"

"Whose faces?"

Lemons grins and Clow unintentionally finds himself backing up a couple steps as Lemons curls his fingers into claws menacingly in front of his face, "Those guys."

"I hate how that's what you said instead of something like change it for the better."

"Well that too but c'mon, tell me you don't wanna put the old grump in the grave early."

Clow stops. "Oh right he's-"

"Yep."

"And he's-"

"Yeeep."

Solus Yae Galvus. Otherwise known as Emet Selch.

(Otherwise known as that Terrible Bastard by just about every Warrior of Light Clow has had the chance to meet. Whether it's said fondly, or hatefully, or sadly depends on the person but all of them universally agree - a terrible, terrible bastard.)

"And then there's Bread, Mr.I-Eat-Cigarretes, the guy from the Chrysalis thing, fire and ice lady-", Lemons counts.

And it would be wouldn't it. A whole decade of half truths and cryptic messages that they'd never really had the chance to understand in between fending for their lives but here they were back at the beginning. Back before- well, most if not everything. And it's not like messing with Ascians while dealing with with everything else were diametrically opposed to each other. Hell most of the time both of those things needed to happen at the same time anyway.

"You know what", Clow says, "You're right. You're right, it would be fun."

"Then- revenge? For all the cryptic dramatic bullshit?"

"Oh, definitely."

[trans-peridot]

FFxivWrite Day 25: Perpetuity

This one takes place right before/during Endwalker. Partway through I realized I couldn't resolve it happily (at least not with an hour left to write it) so here you go, bad ending AU.

“I’ll never get to stop fighting, will I? There’s never going to be a point where there isn’t a bigger threat, or when somebody else is as strong as me and I get to let them take care of it instead. It’s my fate to fight everyone forever. In perpetuity.”

Tayfun sat on her bed alone in an inn room, speaking to herself. There was nobody else there, and then there was. Fray to one side, Myste to the other. She was still alone in the room.

Myste spoke first, “Woe betide they who stand opposed to the Weapon of Light, for death will be their reward. Death for them and their kin and all that they hold dear.  I said this some time ago, did I not? We hurt so many, and it doesn’t even make us feel good. Why don’t we stop?”

Fray glared at Myste. “Of all the selfish... Our joy, or the wellbeing of our soul, or whatever you’re talking about, is not what matters. The world is ever in peril, and there needs to be someone to forestall that peril. Somebody has to save the world and if it’s only us who can then it must be us who does. If we don’t, how was it Louisoix put it? ‘To ignore the plight of those one might conceivably save is not wisdom - it is indolence.’ It is righteous to fight forever.”

Tayfun screamed with tears in her eyes, “But I’m not happy! I don’t want to be righteous, I want to be happy! I don’t want to be the Weapon of Light, I want to be happy!”

Whoever was in the room next to her pounded on the wall. “Keep it down in there! Some of us are here to sleep!”

Tayfun lowered her voice, “I don’t want everyone I love to die one by one, I want to be happy.”

Fray took Tayfun’s hand as tenderly as she could. “Fight with those you love, and they may die. Refuse to fight, and everyone will certainly die. Those you love included. If the greater good matters not to you, think about this selfishly. Take the blows intended for your comrades. You can survive what they can’t.”

“But even still... I couldn’t save Haurchefant. Or Ysayle. Or...”

“No, you’re right, Tayfun. Everyone you love will die if you keep bearing these sins, and it will be your fault.” Myste stared into her eyes and the gaze burned into her soul. “Maybe Fray is right, maybe they’ll die either way. But if you continue down the path of ruin those deaths will be your fault. Just stop. Take your rest.”

“You’re right. I just want to take my rest.” Tayfun took her linkpearl, the Scions’ line of contact with her, dropped it on the floor, and crushed it under her foot.

She left the inn, chose a direction at random, and walked away.

The Scions tried for weeks to contact her. Thancred and Estinien did their utmost to track her down. But just like that, she had vanished. Nobody ever saw her again.

The Scions did what they could on their own to stop Fandaniel and his final days. But in the end he freed Zodiark. Zenos was the one to fight the semi-sundered god and both were slain in the battle.

The Final Days visited the star. Those who had given in to despair were warped into terrible monsters which killed indiscriminately. And as the destruction spread, more and more gave in to despair.

There was one such beast that was stronger than any other, formed from a despair deeper than any other. A creature with a greatsword in one hand and a lance in the other. It single-handedly laid waste to the majority of Eorzea before all was said and done. And at last all laid still. The Endsinger’s song was complete.

[chronothread]

Two Heads Are Better Than One

Endwalker Spoilers.

Seventh Astral Era

Ishgard, Steps of Faith

Second Dawn of the Final Days

A child of Ishgard sits atop a pile of rubble, surrounded by their fallen brothers and sisters in arms. Only one other companion yet breathes - an almost identical figure were it not for the fox mask, ears, and nine tails that they had sported. The figure stands behind the purple-haired Ishgardian, applying ointment and some bandages.

“You know we’re stuck together now, right?”

“Mmhm.”

“And you’re not bothered by that?

“Do I really have a choice to not be bothered?”

“Ahaha! I guess not. But I thought I’d ask anyway.”

“Oh, you’re being polite now? You? The noisy little prick who takes every opportunity to fuck with me?”

“Hey, that’s not fair! I don’t take every opportunity, just…most of them.”

“And that’s better…how?”

“Simple. The breaks lull you into a false sense of security so it’s funnier when I fuck with you again. Ahahaha-ARGH! Hey, be careful! That’s an open wound…”

“Really should have known better than to provoke the person providing you with medical care.”

“You have a horrible bedside manner, you know that?”

“Oh grow up and suck it up. We’ve been through worse.” “Mmmh…worse, really? Our countrymen turn into eldritch beasts and start tearing the populace apart, and you think we’ve been through worse?”

“Your countrymen. And yes, ruining your father’s garden.” “Our countrymen, you’re one of us now. And…point taken.”

The masked figure finishes their work, securing some surgical gauze against the Ishgardian’s side. Some screaming is heard from the Gates of Judgment as droves of Coerthan citizens accompanied by remnants of a few scattered guard remnants desperately attempt to keep the citizens together, all the while driving several blasphemies back. The Ishgardian sighs, picking up their twin katanas before rising once more.

“Tell me straight doc, how bad is it?”

“Manageable for what we’re about to do. You’ll live.”

“That’s what I thought, but I thought a second opinion would be prudent.” “Finally, showing a little sense in that lust-addled brain of yours, Gale?”

“I have my moments Zephyr~”

“I really wish you had more moments like that.”

“Then I’d just be you, wouldn’t I?”

“Good. Means I’d have to worry less.” “Awww, you’re worried?”

“I’m worried for myself. If you die, I die. Remember?”

“Sure sure, keep pretending that’s why you worry.”

“Has anyone ever told you how insufferable you are?”

“Every day of my life~”

The Ishgardian takes a deep breath. There’s blood already on several parts of their body - some theirs, most from their fallen comrades. The gash that had just been recently treated went wide, but thankfully not deep. Another scar to add to the collection, should they survive today. A reminder to honor the sacrifices that the many knights of House Amante had made today. Several dead at their feet, many more injured and carted away - much to their protestations. They wondered if their most devoted knight was recovering well. Dior was most likely begging to be on the field with them again…they just had to go shielding Gale a second time. That was two that they owed Dior now.

The crowd manages to reach the halfway point of the bridge - where Ishgard’s most prodigal child had decided to make their stand. Whether they saw the masked figure bleeding dark aether or not was no longer important to them. Someone was watching over, that was all that mattered. Zephyr raises their own blades, standing next to the errant heir Amante.

“One stride left, Gale.”

“Two strides left, Zephyr.”

“Mmh. Good kill. Two strokes on my end, and this looks just like the fodder too. Am I getting slow?”

“No, you’re doing fine. They’re tougher than they look. What a pain.”

“At least they’re still small, right?” “Worse when they’re small, you’ve got a way smaller margin of error.”

“You know, you still haven’t answered my question.”

“This again? Is this really the time? When we’re fighting for our lives?”

“This-tssyaaa!-is the perfect time! Considering nothing is guaranteed, it might be prudent to get some things off our chests.”

“I think we should focus on the matter at hand.” “Well I think we should air it out before things actually start to get difficult!”

The two swordsmen enter a state of battle flow. Like a pair of ballerinas they dance across the field, felling creatures left and right in perfect sync. When Gale turns, so does Zephyr. When Zephyr strikes, so does Gale. They duo steal the show, outmaneuvering and outpacing the blasphemies at every turn, cutting a path for the poor souls trying to seek refuge from the oncoming storm. Every now and then one of Zephyr’s tails picks a stray spear off the ground and hurls it towards an opponent - only for Gale to kick off of the weapons haft and propel themself one of the creatures that dared to take to the skies, driving the polearm deeper into their opponent’s skull in the process.

“You are reckless Gale.”

“And you are enabling it. Answer the question?”

“Will you value your life while you fight if I do?”

“Yes.”

“No, I’m not bothered. In truth, you are amusing.”

“Aha! So you do like me!”

“You’re putting words in my mouth. You are simply just a very good distraction for my entertainment.”

“Mmhm, sure. I believe you, you-oh.”

The ground shakes. A larger figure appears from the Gates of Judgment, the size of a great wyrm. Only…wrong. With several heads that held several eyes, hand-like wings grasping at the sky, and a giant, gaping maw where their chest cavity was supposed to be. The creature roars, revealing the many teeth that lay inside its chest as the world shook once more from the sheer might of its cries. The swordsmen rush the creature down, knowing that must be done, but at the last second the blasphemy channels a blast of energy from its mouth that lands at Gale’s and Zephyr’s feet sending the pair careening backwards into a pile of rubble. Gale rubs their head as they attempt to reorient themself, before getting up once more.

“Ngg…shit. My head…had to be the size of a fucking house huh?”

“Your head? Fuck…my head too, sometimes I hate sharing a body with you.” 

“That wasn’t my fault this time! Look, if you have a complaint, bring it up after this. You’ll thank this body after we’re through.

“...Gale, we’re probably going to die on this bridge. You know that, right?” “No actually, I don’t. I don’t plan on dying here, and neither do you. But if you’re so worried, you can always leave me here! If I’m simply a fun amusement, I don’t think dying constitutes good entertainment anyway.”

“You know I physically can’t leave you.”

“Oh really? Cry me a river then. Maybe it’ll freeze over fast enough so that thing can slip over it and fall off the side of the bridge.”

The horrid amalgamation rears its many heads and stretches its grotesque wings. One step after the other, it approaches the two battered swordsmen - the last line of defense before the monstrosity reaches the city proper. Then, it’d be all up to whatever defenses the temple knights managed to muster while they set off on this fool’s errand. Hopefully, they bought Ishgard enough time to make a difference.

“And I wouldn’t want to either!”

“Right. Because you-”

“-yes I care! That's why I always tell you to be careful. It’s why I always scold you when you act so damn reckless all the time, why I constantly remind you to get enough sleep and begrudgingly tell you to go meet with your friends under the guise that I am annoyed with all of your banter. I like your banter! But I like it more when you’re not sulking all the time and replaying trauma in your mind!”

“...Zephyr I-”

“I only have little snippets. Tiny little pieces of who I was before, of my humanity. And I didn’t care about the even less that I had when I was drifting from host to host for the longest time. But when I’m with you, when I get to see you live your life and enjoy the world? Enjoy company? I feel like I’m getting back something that I lost a long, long time ago. And hated it at first! I hated being able to feel things again because it made everything so fucking difficult. You were a meal ticket! Nothing more, nothing less! And now here I am caring about some mortal who can’t be bothered to care for themself half the time.”

A dreadful feeling fills the air. A low, rumbling noise emanates from the creature’s chest-maw, and malevolent light begins to coalesce at the center of it. The dragon-blasphemy channels what could only be described as malice itself. Too large - too much to get out of the way in time. Indeed, it was as if it meant to obliterate the very bridge - no - the city itself.

“It’s why it hurts me when you put yourself down and consign yourself to your sheets for the day. No, Gale. I can’t leave you. And even if I could? I wouldn’t! Because you know what? I’d rather die here with you than live one more miserable moment of a voidsent’s existence, constantly paranoid, never being able to trust another person for fear of being consumed! It’s a wretched life, and I would rather die here with purpose. You are my only friend, my only family in this world Gale, and I did not know that I needed that so badly until you irritated me into loving you. So with whatever little time we have left, do not imply that I would leave you. I’ve lost everything once already. I don’t want to lose you too.”

Gale is left speechless. All they can do is look up at the creature - their doom - and dig their heels into the stone bricks that carried their people home for centuries on end. In defiance of fate. Always in defiance of fate.

“Then I guess that means that dying isn’t on the table today.”

“Gale it’s-”

“Useless? Sure, maybe. Maybe we’re going to die here anyway. But isn’t it better to try, to go kicking and screaming, to refuse our last meal? If we are going to do anything together then I want to resist together. I was born with a death sentence Zephyr. I wasn’t going to last another year before I met you. But I kept trying - I kept going on because I believed it was worth trying. And now I’m here, over half a decade later, and with almost another decade left. More if I find a cure. And it was tiring. It was painful, I cried so many nights because of how much it hurt to just exist. To have moments I couldn’t control my body. Moments where the pain was searing, where I felt like I was on fire and that my soul was to be branded with nothing but suffering. I wanted to give up so…so badly so many times. But I had people who I loved counting on me. So I grit my teeth and I kept going. In spite of the world.”

Gale takes a step forward, towards the blasphemy.

“So I’m going to keep living. In pure spite of this thing, to protect the people that I love. And if I die? Fine. I’ll make it a good death. I’ll make it mean something. I’ll burn so bright that the sight of my damaged soul is etched into the stars for all eternity. And I want to do that with you, Zephyr. So…please. Fight with me. One last time?”

The energies that the creature had collected reach critical mass. And as it flaps its wings and takes to the sky, and coils its warped body back as it reels to strike, Zephyr removes their mask and steps forward. A familiar face reveals itself underneath. A face Zephyr had forgotten. 

A face that Gale sees every morning in the mirror.

“One last time. With you, Gale.”

The pair dash forward together. Wind in their step and with a blast of levin, the duo kick off from the ground and make one final charge towards the maw - the belly of the beast - to try and save their homeland. With grim resolve, they welcome their end.

The sound of what seems to be a cannon resonates far across the bridge, and an arrow streaks through the air and buries itself in the light that the monster had channeled. The malevolent energies explode in the creature’s chest mouth, and it roars in pain and anger at this interference. In a berserk rage its many heads flail about, snapping and swiping at the two airborne swordsmen who fend them off as best they can. One of its many-eyed skulls is undaunted by their resistance and swings at the two like a bat, aiming to swat them off the bridge into the cruel embrace of the void. 

Yet a javelin soars through the air - brilliant and ornate, a wolf’s head decorated close to its tip. The weapon sinks into the blasphemy’s head, before exploding - then flying in reverse, disappearing behind the two warriors. As the Child of Halone and Child of the Void land onto the ground once more, they retreat backwards quickly. To where Halone herself seemed to have intervened from.

The pair look back, and see several familiar faces.

“Most troublesome damn sibling I’ve ever had. Next time you’re off to do a heroic sacrifice Gale, do us all a fucking favor? Call me so I can kill you first and save us the trouble?”

“Ignore your sister. But she’s right Gale. Be nicer to yourself - I don’t want to only have a spear to remember my best friend by.”

“In the name of the Fury milord, I know you like to show off, but is this not a bit much?”

Gale presses their lips together, forming a thin line on their face. Zephyr looks at them, canting their head to the side, nine tails swishing slowly in concern. Then Gale begins to laugh, and Zephyr’s ears twitch at the sound. Then they begin to laugh too - a scene that perplexes the three standing behind them. More figures come pouring out from the Arc of the Worthy. All armed. All ready to fight.

“How very like us then. To put it all on ourselves.”

“Speak for yourself. You’re insufferable.”

“ Yes, and whose face are you wearing right now?”

“Shut up. I didn’t know.”

“Well now you know where you get it from. So. I suppose you know what I am thinking…?”

There is a long pause before Zephyr speaks.

“Apple pie after we mop the floor with this son of a bitch?”

“Read me perfectly.”

[purple-link]

Alisaie and Purple Link

FFXIV Write 2024 Story Entry

Spoiler: Story takes place after WoL reaches Garlemald in Endwalker, but but before the Tower of Babil dungeon. Story will be largely sfw, but will adhere to FFXIV's level of mature storytelling.

Chapter 2: Horizon

Alphinaud woke up frenetically, rising up like a shot. He started flailing against Alisaie’s hold, and muttering almost incoherently.

“NO!” he was screaming, “NO MORE WATER, NO MORE SWIMMING! I CAN’T BREATHE! I CAN’T BREATHE!”

“Brother, relax,” said Alisie, trying to hold him fast, “Everyone’s alright!”

Alphinaud blinked, and finally started to calm down.

Purple was standing away from them, his purple tail twitching. He was looking out past the horizon. He looked to his right, and found that the Wolf Burglar was also waking. He was being attended to by one of the au ra healers.

“Hardly ever see a Lupin down here,” said the healer, as the Wolf Burgler flashed his pearly whites in what he hoped was a charming manner, and not in a predator-like way.

“I’ve made my way down here a couple of times,” said the Wolf Burgler, “I’m a thief, but these days, I mostly steal hearts.”

“We’re…” said Alphinaud curiously, “...underwater.”

“That’s correct,” said Alisaie, nodding, “We’re in the kingdom of Sui-No-Sato.”

The entire settlement was underwater, protected by a huge bubble. The question of where they were getting the fresh oxygen seemed, for the moment, to be somebody else’s problem.

That was the least of Alphinaud’s concerns.

The whole place had a regal air, and there were Au Ra all over the place. They were mainly humanoid in shape, sporting dragon-like scales, with horns protruding where a Hyur’s ears might be located.

They were very much like the Miqo’te, with feline-like ears and a tail, except the Au Ra were fashioned after the drakes.

And over in the distance stood Purple Link. He was a big, purple-furred spoken, with a penchant for Red Magic. He had a golden rapier that was given to him by the Hrothgar in Bozja.

Though he shared a connection with those Hrothgar, it hadn’t been expressed as his place of origin. Alphinaud wondered, not for the first time, where Purple had even come from.

Wait…Didn’t Purple mention something about his home, before-

“The boat!” said Alphinaud, worriedly, “We crashed–!”

He looked at Alisaie, who was looking guiltily away. Alphinaud frowned at this, and then looked around again.

“We’re under the sea,” he said, much more obviously. Alisaie thought about needling her brother about this, but she knew what he was going to say.

“Yes, we are,” said Alisaie, sitting down beside Alphinaud, who was beginning to sit up, “Very much like the Tempest in that regard.”

Alphinaud nodded.

“Quite, and very much in the same manner of execution,” said Alphinaud, “And at a much smaller scale. I daresay these underwater bubbles, at this size, would last for much longer than a lifetime, if it became necessary.”

“The Kojin,” said the healer who was tending the Wolf Burglar, “occasionally come over and replenish the magical barrier that separates us and the open sea.”

“That was my next question,” said Alphinaud, “Why are we here? Our vessel crashed along a rocky outcropping several miles from Onokoro. We would have been too far away from any surface rescue.”

“That’s…” said Alisaie, motioning her head to Purple Link, who was standing apart and visibly upset, “It was all Purple’s idea.”

Alphinaud’s mind wandered for a minute or two, and then he remembered.

“The blessing of the Kojin,” said Alphinaud, smiling lightly, “You and our friend here can breathe underwater.”

“Oh, sure, now you tell me,” said the Wolf Burglar, “I’ve been sucking in and holding a lungful of air like a numpty!”

“Okay, maybe except him,” said Alisaie, wryly, “We had to think fast.”

“And what a swift rescue it was,” said Alphinaud, “Another minute, and we would have hit the bottom of the sea floor.”

A pair of regal-looking Au Ra came up to them and bowed deeply. They were accompanied by a taller gent wearing white robes.

Alisaie remembered this as Shiosai Sui, the High Priest of Shisui of the Violet Tides. He was also caretaker at the time, to the younger ladies, Princess Ruby Kurenai and her friend, Hisui.

Here, Purple Link was finally distracted, and he smiled brightly. He went over and shook the hand of the taller Au Ra, and bade a fair greeting to the two younger ladies.

“Princess Ruby Kurenai, and Hisui,” said Purple Link, “It has been too long! I was to assume you had retaken permanent residence in Shisui.”

“My position is not restricted from the occasional visit, I’ll have you know,” said Kurenai, “That old palace can take care of itself without me for a day.”

“I have made accommodations for our absence, and these two couldn’t take no for an answer,” said Shiosai, with a smile, “I must admit, even I wanted to meet the Warrior of Light again. The Champion of Eorzea is not an opportunity to miss, even if it’s only been a short time ago.”

Purple’s expression fell, and he felt his ears flatten against his skull.

“I see,” said Purple, “Well, I’m afraid we can’t stay for long, I have pressing business in Garlemald.”

“Always the busy sea otter,” said Shiosai, nodding, “Please take it into heart that Sui-No-Sato will remain a home to you and your party, for however long you like.”

“Yes, please,” said Kurenai, “Anything for the hero who helped to revive my friend!”

“Thanks, we might hold you to that,” said Purple, “We have a couple of people down here who aren’t covered by the blessing.”

“That’s a shame, it really is,” said Hisui, “And the Kojin are busy with their own tribulations, they might not have the time to come over and see to that.”

“We can cover their departure,” said Alisaie, “Our mounts should also be covered by the blessing, and they will be able to ascend into the surface at speed.”

“That’s good to hear,” said Hisui, “Well, I repeat my princess's tidings, and bid you good day.”

All three Au Ra bowed deeply. After seeing them walk back into the settlement, Purple Link grumbled, and turned back to face the surface of the bubble to the south, looking upset.

“...It could be anywhere,” said the Hrothgar, miffed.

“If this is Sui-No-Sato,” said the Wolf Burglar, “The location of the artifact shouldn’t be too far away from here. The Garlean vessel is purported to have crashed to the south and west of here, so just about anywhere between The Isle of Zekki and Shisui of the Violet Tides.”

“But you haven’t been blessed,” said Alisaie, “How do you know all these locations?”

“I’m a very good swimmer,” said the wolf, “I’ll have you know I can hold my breath for ten minutes!”

“Still, it’s going to take time to find the artifact, even if we have to go beyond the confines of the Ruby Sea…”

She looked over to Purple, and she felt a frown coming on. It was a familiar frown, and one Alphinaud knew all too well.

“Gil for your thoughts, dear twin?” said Alphinaud, smirking lightly. Alisaie turned back.

“My thoughts are too expensive for your coin purse,” said Alisaie, and then much gentler added, “This is a matter between Purple and I. You don’t…necessarily have a stake in it.”

“I have a stake in it, if my sister is involved,” said Alphinaud, putting a hand on her shoulder, making her look towards him sharply, “You know I’m not one to let idle thoughts linger. They bubble and stew, and simmer with a glossy coat of grime along the surface.”

Alisaie frowned at her brother, but not unkindly. She very gently moved her brother’s hand from her shoulder and put it to his side, like a tea doily. He only smirked at this.

“You’ve been hanging around The Last Stand for too long,” she said, and then stood up. Alphinaud stood up as well, and decided to take the time to survey his surroundings.

He’d never been in an underwater Au Ra settlement before, and the Hingahsi trappings found even this far down the water’s surface were a marvel to look at…

Alisaie walked up to the tall Hrothgar. Short of getting his attention by touching him again, she coughed lightly. He swung around, his face the picture of irritation.

Alisaie was unmoved. If she could stare down her father’s arrogance and her brother’s stubbornness, she could stare down Purple’s frustration.

“Purple Link,” said Alisaie, strongly, “I think you and I need to have a talk.”

Purple Link gruffed, and he felt his tail flick up and down, like a whip. He looked out again to the horizon, the emptiness of the Ruby Sea taunting him with an underwater bounty he no longer cared to search for.

“Purple Link?” she said more sternly.

“What?” said Purple Link, turning sharply, his fur standing on end. Alisaie wasn’t having it.

“I’m not going to respond unless you talk to me in a civilized manner,” said Alisaie.

“I’m not civilized, remember?” growled Purple Link, his black claws out in a vicious manner, “I’m a savage!”

“No, what you are is a child,” said Alisaie, folding her arms, “And I think it’s high time you start acting like an adult.”

Purple Link mumbled and grumbled, and stared out into the ocean once more. He sighed.

“...You’re right,” said Purple Link, “What is it that you want to talk about?”

Alisaie walked up to the purple cat and put a fist to his chest. It seemed an aggressive gesture, but in lieu of a dope slap, it would have to do. She knew better than to throw a tussle with a muscle-bound cat, even if she could beat him in a fight on equal ground.

“Get that out of your system?” said Purple.

“Only if you got it out of yours,” replied Alisaie.

Damn, he thought, she got him there.

“I’m sorry, Alisaie,” said Purple, genuinely apologetic, “I let my arrogance get the best of me. I talk of protecting, and I crash the boat into a rock and almost drown your brother. How can I call myself a hero?”

“First of all, we’re the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, remember?” said Alisaie, “We’re all heroes. Secondly, I let my arrogance get the best of the both of us. I’m just as at fault for bringing us down here as you.”

“Still, I ran my mouth,” said Purple, worriedly, “You know, I can tell when you’re going to outgrow me.”

“What are you, my father?” said Alisaie, almost as a joke, but Purple Link felt guilty about that feeling.

She wasn’t exactly wrong…

“No jokes,” said Purple Link, “You’re much faster than me and already much stronger than me at being a Red Mage. It took me forever to break out of the muscle memory of my Black Magic, and then you switch and it’s like…”

He smirked, proudly.

“You’re a better mage than I,” said Purple Link, “All the work you put into Norvrandt is showing dividends up here. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Alisaie blushed, and she turned away.

“Enough of the fluffing up of the feathers,” said Alisiae, “I think it’s high time we look for this artifact of yours.”

“Yeah, that’s a good question,” said Purple Link, and he requested the assistance of the Wolf Burglar, who loped over in a flash. He looked out past the horizon that Purple Link was keen to observe.

“Yeah, I’d say it’s about in that direction,” said the Wolf Burglar, “You wanna check out the surface, get a glimpse of landmarks above as well?”

“Yeah, that would be a good idea,” said Purple, “Having Heaven-on-High at my rudder would make me feel a little better about where I need to go.”

“You took the words right out of my mouth,” said the Wolf Burglar, and then he began a series of stretches, “Ready whenever you are!”

Purple Link turned back to Alisaie, who shook her head.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be right here,” said Alisiae, nodding, “I’ve got to look after my brother, make sure he’s good and ready to leave. I’m certain he still doesn’t like swimming.”

Purple Link smiled, but a nagging feeling in the back of his brain told him that there were a lot of unanswered questions.

“This…I’m afraid what you and I have to talk about is just the beginning,” said Purple Link, pulling out a whistle.

The whistle was marked with the name “Violet,” written in appropriately-dyed coloring.

“The feeling is more than mutual,” said Alisaie, knowingly, “But we can discuss that later. You have a quest to finish.”

Purple Link nodded, and he blew the whistle. In short order, his trusty chocobo Violet, a purple-plumed riding chicken with a Black Mage’s hat on appeared at his side.

The Wolf Burglar looked on in astonishment.

“Okay, I’ve had enough of this,” said the Lupin, curiously, “How in the Seven Hells did the chicken get down here?!”

As the two leapt onto Violet’s saddle, Purple nodded one last time to Alisaie, and sprinted out an exit hole that was formed around the inside of the bubble, to allow their departure.

The Wolf Burglar took in a deep breath and covered his muzzle with his paw, to prevent any accidental inhalation.

The trek to the surface was long and exhausting. Even though the chocobo rose to the surface at great speed, the Lupin still wasn’t sure he was going to make it.

He watched the Hrothgar, breathing in the water like it was air. He seemed unphased by both the pressure and the weight of water above them.

They shot past glorious vistas of underwater forests, coral reefs and seaweed unlike the kind the wolf had ever seen before, and would have been amazed at, if his lungs weren’t at near capacity.

They broke the surface, and they both took lungfuls of air. The Lupin was upset at this.

“Why are you doing it?!” said the Lupin, “You don’t have to hold your breath!”

“I still gotta clear my lungs for air, don’t I?”

The Wolf Burglar grumbled lightly, but he couldn’t disagree. They looked up.

The sun was just about to set, an orange sky that delicately framed the horizon, off to the southwest. It was gorgeous.

It seemed such a long distance out. Several islands surrounded them, and they soon realized it might be time to look for a surface camp.

Purple Link put two fingers up to his ear and tapped it twice. He thought of Alisie, and sure enough, the Elezen could be heard on the other side of the sea.

“Purple, are you at the surface?” she asked over the linkpearl. The hrothgar nodded.

“Purple, you don’t have to nod over the linkpearl,” said the Elezen, frankly, “I’m not going to be able to see it.”

“Oh, uh, right,” said Purple, “Yes, we’re here. We’re going to take a short break, before we set out both above and below the ocean.”

“Well, have fun,” said Alisaie, “I’ll keep my brother occupied, until we can finalize a way to get him above surface, and then we can join you.”

“I’ll keep the fire going,” said Purple, and then shut off the line, tapping his ear twice again.

“Ready?” said Purple.

“Yeah, I guess,” said the Wolf Burglar, “You really are full of surprises, aren’t you?”

“I mean, sure?” said Purple, “Are you afraid of heights?”

“I stood on the highest point of Kugane, overlooking the city in an over-dramatic fashion,” said the Wolf Burglar, “What do you think?”

“I think we’re going to be going higher than that,” said Purple Link, and clicked his tongue and pulled the reins lightly.

Violet kreened highly, and with a triumphant kweh, the bird shot into the sky from the ocean’s surface, the Wolf Burglar crying out in fear.

To be continued…

[freevoidman]

Man, Viper getting a borderline immediate rework to remove a timer feels... really weird and worrying? I don't think I'm the only person that's noticed XIV is trending away from managing time-based "things" that apply debuffs/DOTs since at LEAST Endwalker with Paladin. Combine that with Monk losing Demolish's DOT and Viper now losing Noxious Gash, I feel like the game's job design is trending away from interesting things in order to manage less debuffs on bosses to avoid overflow bugs.

Which SUCKS because Noxious Gnash was fun! I like maintaining damage debuffs! I think timers are an interesting way of engaging with fights and requires you to focus more on what you're doing button-wise than simply going on auto-pilot mid-fight! Now it feels like a super braindead job where I 100% just follow whichever button lights up. At the very least Monk and Paladin losing their DOT attacks didn't completely fuck up a key component of their job too much (PLD still has Circle of Passage, Monk lost Demolish's DOT but gained the beast chakras instead to add a non-timer based complexity).

This has been weird feeling ever since Summoner got it's rework (cough cough gutting cough cough) in 6.0, which gutted ANY complexity from the job and made it so simple there's no way to meaningfully innovate it for future expansions. Just throw another random Bahamut on there (is there even ANY lore about Solar Bahamut??? is it just a random new dragon??? all the egis had MEANING behind them, you're seriously telling me we got a random dragon before Ramuh, Shiva or Leviathan? Or hell, even Hydaelyn or Zodiark?) and that'll stick it to them!

Hot take: if you have to get a class to a minimum of level 80 and BUY DAWNTRAIL to access the new job, that job SHOULD be more complex! It starts 80% of the way to the max level available right now! There should be a higher execution level that makes the job more engaging. At the very least, if it does turn out to be "too complex," wait until the first tier of savage is done to see how well it works in higher-level play then IMMEDIATELY planning reworks as early as one week after early access.

idk there's just something about how the very, very minor complexities of certain jobs has been removed and simplified to a baby-level degree of "you can't possibly manage more than one thing/your 60s-120s buffs" that it feels frustrating. I almost don't want them to add any more new jobs because of this, because part of the problem is definitely that with the more jobs added, the harder it is to coordinate all their unique buffs/debuffs/timers.

EDIT: FUCK I forgot they also removed Huton timer from Ninja too! Another timer they removed to homogenize the now two members of the scouting classes.

[kalina-moonbride]

Role Changes

Context: A few nights after 'First Time Sleeping Together', so level 84 main scenario. Spoilers: Vague references to important Endwalker events. Warnings: Sexual interactions and innuendo, non-explicit. Challenge: @ffxivpolyamoryweek! Details here.

Y'shtola was about to unlace the back of her dress, nightgown at the ready nearby, when she saw G'raha setting out a pillow on the andron's bench, again. She paused. “G'raha. You mean to continue sleeping on that tiny thing? Isn't it uncomfortable?”

He blinked and looked at it, as if the matter hadn't even crossed his mind. “It's not so bad. It's nostalgic, really! I spent many nights like that when I was a student, with others from the study group continuing long after I'd dozed off.” He glanced over at where Kalina sat on the edge of the feather bed in her smallclothes, observing the conversation. He scratched bashfully behind an ear. “Though I could return to my own room, and give you two your privacy.”

“No, no, no.” Y'shtola tapped a fist on her cheek. “Stay here. And while I'm away, you and Kalina can push the table to the wall, if you would.” She swept from the room.

G'raha tilted his head; Kalina shrugged broadly; but the two of them set to the task. The table was long and terribly heavy, but the Hrothgar Warrior of Light, at least, had little trouble hefting her end of it. They managed to shift the furniture aside with minimal strain before Y'shtola returned.

The sorceress carried in a cloth-wrapped bundle, which she set on the floor where the table had been. Then, with a gesture and a short burst of aether, she commanded it to unfold. In a satisfying fwoomp, the package expanded to become a Hingashi style futon. “There. That shall serve much better, for now.”

“I don't know why I didn't think of that,” G'raha remarked. He gave a short bow. “Thank you, that will suit me much better.”

Y'shtola grinned. “You mistake me. I'll be using it, tonight. You and Kalina have the main bed.”

That startled both of her counterparts, and they reacted in unison. “What?”

The briefest flicker of doubt crossed Y'shtola's face, but she persevered. “If I have misread you, Raha, I shall take correction. But you appreciate being close to us, do you not?”

“Certainly.”

“And you have no aversion to physical touch?”

“From those I love this dearly? None whatsoever.”

“Then all is well.” She put hands on her hips. “On the morrow, we can request the feather bed be replaced with one that sleeps three. And if that requisition should be delayed, with Sharlayan in uproar, we'll continue rotating night by night.”

Kalina's tail flicked, then curled, as she considered. “I wouldn't mind, Raha, if it works for you.”

He looked vaguely shell-shocked, but nodded. “It's a fair arrangement.”

With that settled, they returned to their nighttime routine: changing into sleep clothes, extinguishing the lights, and climbing into their beds, however newly configured. Since Kalina was quite a bit taller and broader than the Miqo'te, G'raha found himself tucked in against her chest.

“Your heart is pounding,” he remarked, quiet. “You're sure you're all right?”

“I… will be?” She paused, eyes open, gazing out into the dark of the room. “This will take some getting used to. It did with Shtola, too, but…” She cast about for a delicate turn of phrase. “There we had options? For relieving the tension?”

“Ah. I'm sorry…”

“No, please, don't be! You're you and I love you. It's just—different. And new to me.” As close as they were, she could feel no reaction from him. Not like lovers past. Not like the hot ache she herself felt.

They lay there in silence for some time. She synchronized her breathing to his, let the smell of his hair fill her nose, closed her eyes at last. The desire remained, but the need of it subsided, suffusing into the greater warmth of the time and the place.

“If it helps,” Raha said gently, “This may be the happiest night of my life. Final Days or no.”

Her throat hurt suddenly; she thought she might cry. It did help, though. “Yes!”

“And it will only be better, when it's all three of us!”

She managed to push the choking feeling out into a shaky laugh. “I am very much looking forward to it.”

“So until then. Goodnight!”

Sleep did come, then, carrying those thoughts of imminent perfection away into dream.

[laciefuyu]

NXX Feat FFXIV

(aka I am blasting my niche)

Apologize in advance for long text LOL

People who follow me before my new obsession aka Tears of Themis definitely know I keep using FFXIV quotes for my Jedi gifset (which I will willingly attest that it has some of the best writing in the media.) 

Anyway if I didn't make it my niche aka Tears of Themis x FFXIV that won't be me. So let's ramble about NXX members and what they will play (race and main jobs) and faves NPCs in the game and whatever popped up in my mind.

Main Character/Rosa

She was thinking of an idea for team bonding because they are friends and she wants to do something together

Luke proposed FFXIV because it's an MMO (so they all can play together) and has a good story.

She looked up and immediately agreed after seeing the glams of the various wol (warrior of light/playable character)l.

She was thinking of playing as a female miqo'te at first but she saw how jacked female roegadyn is, immediately steering to it with the speed of light.

She knows she wants to avoid tanks and healers because that is too much responsibility when she just wants to attack.

She ends up with arch/brd (archer/bard) for starters because 1) physical range means away from big mechanics 2) she just wants to shoot the boss from far.

Later end up becoming the main mch (machinist) because 1) cool gun 2) she is learning to shoot irl so it makes it more fun for her 3) she can PEW PEW in the game.

Always going blind to any dungeon, trial, and raid.

Because FFXIV can make you play all jobs if you will it, she tried it all eventually but she prefers being dps especially range dps

Sometimes she fights with people on forums because people keep saying mch is a useless job, and she will not stand for it!!!!

Likes to collect glams so she often drags NXX boys to farm a certain raid and dungeon to get variations.

Her favorites are Minfilia and Lyse. She really loves their characters.

She is also fond of Aymeric and G'raha. 

Used to dislike Emet-Selch but then she sobbed over him. After that, she will clown Emet-Selch whenever he shows up on the screen.

She loves Venat after Endwalker.

Artem Wing

He chose to play Elezen. He actually prefers duskwight elezen but seeing the psychiatrist stating he is going to play duskwight, he detracted from his choice because he doesn't want to ruin the mood.

Rosa casually mentioned isn't he want to play as duskwight because he was looking for the lore, and because Vyn has brain cells he put it together and gave Artem a dirty look. 

(It's just a feeling, but I think Artem in general is not sure where to put himself in a friend group especially when one of them previously had some kinda bad blood between them.)

They Have a Fun Talk™

Anyway in the end Artem still played as wildwood elezen but at least the air between the two is no longer silly and tense.

(The younger trio wanna know so badly what they talk about but neither is relenting)

Because Artem is Artem he is looking up the game stuff after the idea is proposed. He is not used to playing games all that much and feels the need to know how to do it correctly so he won't end up being a bother.

Funnily, he looked up the race lore and the twelve but managed to avoid spoilers because there is always a preface of warning when it reaches that territory of expansion spoilers.

He actually studies mechanics before they enter any dungeon, trial, or raid. 

Artem ended up playing tank as main because the younger trio preferred main dps and they needed a tank. Luke is an all-rounder but he avoids healer and tank roles when possible.

He chose gld/pld (gladiator/paladin). He studied the starter tank role and found that he would like to play that job the most.

He also played dps as either mch (because it feels right since he can use a gun) or blm aka black mage (he finds it fun to get a spot and to Not Move and deliver big damage)

Actually really into the story, and take notes while cutscenes play. 

(This left the other three confused while Rosa giggled to herself because she already knows it's his mockingbird self that is surfacing.)

Is actually a really good tank because he always does his rotation and mitigation correctly. Not without stumbles but he keeps improving to the point he can play tank with ease.

Multiple times saving a normal trial/raid because he got good mitigation and clemency (healing button) and finished the raid/trial or saving healer before dying so the healer can save the rest.

His opinion of Emet-Selch is sympathetic but ultimately the damage is already done, and his end is inevitable.

He really likes Aymeric. Find it admirable that the man is able to stay in his conviction even when the place and people he wants to protect would not always stand by him. He is glad to see Aymeric people in the corner no matter how few there are. Artem hopes that he could always stay true to his conviction too like Aymeric 

Is actually crying at Venat's famous monologue. (Flabbergasted the team)

His favorite scion is papalymo therefore it made him sad when he died.

Also loves watching countries' leaders growth, especially for Merlwylb and Nanamo.

Vyn Richter

He chose to play Duskwight because he finds them fascinating and also finds that they deserve better and should be given more fleshed-out lore.

He has a Fun Talk with Artem because they are friends now and Artem needs to understand that. (Albeit Vyn thought they would be enemies longer but they are friends now he needs to make it clear.)

(He would still annoy artem time by time but that's different vibes)

For him there was no other choice but play as a healer. This just makes sense to him because he in fact has an MD. Thank you very much, he would emulate this energy in a game too.

Vyn learned healing in the game very fast. 

His starter job is arc (arcanist) but immediately steers to sch (scholar) as soon as they get lvl 30, and he actually finds it funny when the fairy jank.

His main job is sge (sage) later on. It is interesting that the attack can heal, and he wants to master it.

He actually can play all healer but he finds whm (white mage) a bit mind-numbing, and while ast (astrologian) is fun with keeping up healing, cards, and attack he prefers something more reliable like sge.

He still plays because when there is a fairy jank, he finds it fun to play. It was also his first healer job, so he was kinda attached to it.

(And because he loves the barrier healer job. He will have to heal but he loves that he could mitigate or prevent the damages.)

He sometimes argues with Artem because of his use of clemency.

("Have more faith in your healer or play healer yourself, Artem." Vyn said in annoyance.

Artem sighed, "I canceled the clemency, Vyn.")

That said, sometimes he had to hand it to Artem because his decision to save or to mitigate the healer was usually top notch.

He only ever tells him good job and does not elaborate.

The only non-healer job he plays is rdm (red mage)

He sometimes studies the mechanic before entering the dungeon/trial/raid, but sometimes he trusts his ability enough to wing it. (He said 'I will wing it' usually when they all played in the same room instead of playing in their own place. He found it funny when Artem gave him an annoyed, yet fond look.)

That said, healing the younger trio is actually more stressful than healing Artem who plays tank.

Both Rosa and Marius play main range dps, and they are always somewhere in narnia (as in a far-off range of the heals) and Vyn either had to use a rescue button or adjust his range.

Vyn never does this to Rosa, but he sometimes uses the rescue button to drag Marius straight to the killing mechanic.

("IS THAT NECESSARY?"

"Easier to kill you than healing you.")

Luke is a different kind of trouble for Vyn. He is always on range most of the time, but he is always trying to maintain uptime therefore sometimes he dies at the silliest mechanic.

Vyn, pulling a face: behave or else

(Never make your healer mad, folks)

His favorite scion ironically is Thancred.

He took a glance and saw a man full of contradictions and took it personally. He loves to psychoanalyze Thancred.

He actually hates Thancred. He is a Hater but Thancred is fun to analyze then he grows to like him as a character because the chara growth is unexpected and endearing.

He grows to love Thancred (bitter)

Vyn is also very fond of Cid. He can relate to Cid's story and how made the decision to step away from the Garlemald. Vyn hates Garlemald as soon as they are mentioned in the game.

He takes one glance at Ishgard and is immediately a Hater. Remind him too much of Svart. He thinks Aymeric is too soft and should take care of himself more instead of the ungrateful country.

He is pretty sympathetic to Yotsuyu albeit in the end, he knows there is no good end for her.

He hates Emet-Selch. 

He is very fond of Y'shtola because one sane person (in his opinion) and the sass along with intellectuals are fun to see.

He grows to like the twin.

He has a lot of Opinion™ on Venat but ultimately he could see it as a desperate gambit at the end of the world.

"This is why an ethical class is needed for scientists and the like. Also, Hermes needs therapy. His coping mechanism is to drag the world to hell."

Luke Pearce

He is the one who suggested FFXIV when Rosa suggested gaming as bonding time.

He is actually a veteran player but uses a new game+ mode so he can enjoy the game with them.

He has an alts which male sun seeker mi'qote but his main is a male midlander hyur.

He likes to say he plays all roles but he actually doesn't like healing as much even though he can do it very well and his habit as a melee player is always bleeding through when he is tanking which causes healers to get annoyed at him.

(He still gets healer annoyed at him as melee dps but he always delivers big damage so.)

His main from the beginning is pgl/mnk (pugilist/monk) and he is one of the few people who lament when the devs tried to remove some positionals. ("But that's the fun of playing monk!!!")

Is actually a melee jobs specialist, but his best damage has always been when he plays mnk.

Luke tried to not be silly for Vyn but his Positional Is Important™

("Sorry Vyn! But-

"-My positional is important."

"Yes." Embarrassed.

Vyn sighed.)

He is the one who calls out for extreme trials or savage raids.

He knows most mechanics, that's why he can clear things with ease, the only issue is that as melee, he is very greedy for more damage so all his dead usually is silly.

He knows the story is good, so he was looking forward to seeing all of them reacting to it.

Luke already predicted all of Rosa's possible reactions to it. There is something satisfying watching people reacting as expected in certain scenes

He is happy to know Marius also likes it, commenting on what he likes and also sobbing at some parts. He finds all of Vyn's comments either funny or very on point.

Artem was unexpected because Luke didn't expect the oldest to be very taken to the story, even taking notes and all. He provides thoughtful opinions that give him more insight into a game. Luke thought he already aced all the lore then there is Artem.

Luke is HELLA curious about what is written in the notes.

His favorite scion is G'raha, previously it was Minfilia. He likes their optimistic view, and he cried a lot over Minfilia's fate and G'raha's life during shadowbringer. Hope Punk all the way!!

He hates Emet-Selch's gut for a while but also pities him because Emet-Selch lost so many people he loves and Luke could understand the feeling.

The burden of memory, but he couldn't approve of the way Emet-Selch handled it either. It's complicated.

He is very fond of Hythlodaeus and thinks that kinds of people are needed in life. To not take life too seriously and enjoy it.

He loves Meteion and is very sad about her story. In the first playthrough to Endwalker, he cried at cutscenes before the Final Dungeon.

When he played the game again with NXX, he found he started to take Venat quotes to heart. 

He respects Venat as a character.

Marius Von Hagen

He was scrolling through the races and found the most perfect fit of the character he wanted. Male Viera.

He took forever designing his character to the point that Rosa and Vyn are actually bombing his dm to get faster. Luke uses his main, so he waited for them to finish and in the meantime does roulette for dungeon/trial/raid. Artem is already finished but also looking for mechanics and lore, and most gameplay. 

His starter job is arch/brd but it also became his main. His other DPS are dnc (dancer) and smn (summoner).

Marius always goes blind when doing dungeons/trials/raids. He and Rosa high-fived over this.

He and Rosa are also the most obsessed with glam therefore he always roped all of them to hunt ones. 

("Listen, I want this so badly, Artem!"

 "Me too! The phys ranger gear is so good in this one so please 🥹")

Both of them always roped Artem 1) Easier to convince (softie mode on) 2) Luke prefers to heal if he has to fill in either tank or healer 3) Vyn can be convinced but takes time.

Also the one who is most into PVP in FFXIV

"Killing people is so fun." About Frontline mode PVP

Payton almost had a heart attack hearing it out of context once. Marius has to explain it's about a game.

"C'mon let's play Rival Wing mode!!!" Marius every time they could have time to play together. Luke and he tries to outdo kills each other whenever they get on different sides.

He sometimes knew that he annoyed Vyn with his playstyle, but that only tempted him more. The result, ofc, the occasional dragged to killing mechanic.

("Worth it." 

Marius famous last words)

His favorite character is Guydelot. Rosa knows who Guydelot is because she also plays brd. The others find out of curiosity.

("He speaks to my soul you see."

"Being a drama queen?"

"Missy! How could you!")

His favorite scions are Alphinaud and Alisaie. He is really fond of their character growth. He also has a few things he relates to each twin (family legacy, finding his own path, unlearning some behavior) and he couldn't help but cheer for them. 

He loves Emet-Selch but will clown him whenever he is on screen.

("Making fascist empire to cope? Please be serious.")

Venat/Hydaelyn's last farewell made him really sad. 

He is also really curious about Artem's notes on FFXIV.

Also despite his first playthrough blunder, he is a really good brd. He always maintains his rotation if he doesn't die.

("I am a perfect support."

"Please fix your bad habit of going far off then.")

Miscellaneous

They sometimes end up using FFXIV as a reference for what they talked about and confuse people

Luke carries them through other contents such as Deep Dungeon.

Whenever Luke used the callout for the first time ex trial/savage raid, Artem was always confused about what even fisting the ground meant.

Vyn is such a good healer that it carries thru PVP 

Marius really loves giving ideas for group glams. Artem and Vyn used to resist it but now it is just a fact of life.

Rosa has tons of their gpose.

That’s what I have so far lmao. Anyone can agree or disagree, this is just my opinion after all but if this is actually a springboard for a fic where NXX finds out about Artem’s mockingbird persona? Hahaha… Unless? The NXX Idols AU is shoving guns to my temple now.

 Hope you all enjoy my niche LOL

[halikyon]

So, I've never been really satisfied with the end of Endwalker before the post patches. To me it felt like, in spite of it all, you just get back up fine, and it lacks narrative impact. Just another day at the office, which is clearly not what it was.

So! I wrote my own for Ryune.

Behold my attempt at creative writing:

Zenos had fallen. Ryune's body was consumed by a fiery pain that seemed to have no one source. She could hardly even think. This was it, she felt, laying next to an insane man in just as bad of a state as her. At least the sky was pretty.

Her vision faded and she closed her eyes, taking comfort knowing that everyone was safe. The Scions, her tribes, her home...M'naago. She hadn't seen her in so long, and she wondered how she would take it. Ryune couldn't help but worry as it all faded to black, but for one small light...

The next time she opened her eyes, the Scions were gathered around her, Alisae was crying, and both Yshtola and Urianger seemed to be pouring aether into her, but she couldn't seem to feel it. Ryune faded away once again before she could even say a word in spite of the pain that still radiated from everywhere.

The next time Ryune opened her eyes, there was no one, only white. She must be dead, she thought, which made sense, except for the sudden sound of a hastily opened door and a familiar voice calling out. Then the pain registered, and she wished she had stayed asleep a while longer.

Alas, that was not her fate, as she lifted her head slightly, making out from the blur the stark white room of what she presumed was a Sharlayan medical facility. A red blur towards the door to her left at the foot of the bed, who she presumed to be Alisae, quickly had more blurs around her looking in. Her instinct was to rub her eyes, but she realized her arms would hardly move. She tried to speak, but only a hoarse whisper escaped her lips.

White blurs now appeared, brushing past the other ones, who she presumed were some few Scions and friends, to surround her. She didn't quite recognize them, as she hadn't been to the medical wards before, but if they were as studious as she knew their peers to be, she felt she must be in good hands.

One, an older man Elezen man, leaned in close. Softly, he said, "I am Docter Fahrad, Ryune. Can you hear me?."

She gave a small nod.

"Are you in any pain?" He asked, seeming so infinitely gentle after what she had endured.

She nodded again, a few times, in the attempt to get the point across.

"Okay. Hold on just a moment." He spoke to his colleagues using words she didn't really understand and one nearby to her right, haloed by light from a large window, seemed to work some sort of controls. The pain began to fade to a more manageable state. She noticed a few wires and small tunes connected to her arms now that she could process what she was feeling a bit better.

"How's that, any better?" He asked, turning back to her. Her vision was slowly improving, and she could see the menagerie around her more clearly.

She nodded again, grateful for the change, and attempted to speak again. She tried to thank him, but what came out was more akin to a pair of soft rasps trying to form a 'thank you'.

"Hold on there Ryune, let's get a little water going for you before you try to speak." The doctor turned and spoke more instructions to a nurse who quickly left her field of view, only to appear again a few moments later.

The doctor picked up what looked like a wet but very clean rag and held it up to her face. "Get some water from this, it'll loosen your throat back up safely."

She did so, opening her mouth so he could place it in. All the while she could feel instruments and hands upon her, likely checking injuries she had sustained.

Before long the moisture returned to her mouth and throat, and her vision had improved even more. Alisae, of course, was the red blur in the door, but she could make out a dark one that was likely Yshtola before she put her head back down.

She opened her mouth and the doctor took the rag almost immediately. "Sharlayan?"

"Yes, you're in Old Sharlayan, you're home, safe." His calm demeanor was like a warm blanket on her mind.

"Scions?" She asked nodding to the door. Her voice was still weak, but at least she could speak.

"Safe and accounted for, and, might I add, quite anxious to come in." He smiled at her. "If you would like we can let a few come in once we wrap up here."

Ryune nodded and tried to relax herself. "How long?" She asked.

"Oh just a few minutes, I'll be monitoring you throughout, though."

"No, how long?" She insisted, meaning something else.

He seemed to understand. "Ah, yes. Ryune, you've been here for 29 days." He put a firm hand on her shoulder, likely in case she tried to move.

She didn't, though. She had expected to be out longer than that given how she felt. "Explains...the arms." She managed to say, referring to how hard it was to move.

"Yes, you'll be experiencing stiffness and a bit of atrophy in your muscles for a time." He grabbed her hand, "Can you squeeze any?"

She tried, feeling like barely anything happened when she did. The doctor seemed satisfied, though.

"Very good, much better than I had assumed." His colleagues spoke up, seeming to give him more readings and data she didn't quite get. "You seem to be stable and responding to the treatment, the rest is up to you, Ryune." He nodded to the others in the room. "Let's give them some space, I'll stay here to monitor, go ahead and let-"

He was interrupted by the red blur nearly knocking him out of the way. "You are never ever allowed to leave us like that ever again do you understand me?" Alisae said, her voice stern like an angry mother's. "We thought you were gone, Ryune, I thought..." she seemed to trail off, her voice cracking.

Ryune, using what movement she could manage, looked at her. She could see fresh tears rolling down her face. "I'm...sorry...Ali..." she tried to move her arm to grab her hand on the bed, but she barely moved it before Alisea grabbed it herself. "I'm...okay...I'm okay." Ryune strained her voice to sound a bit stronger to reassure her.

Alisae opened her mouth to respond, but instead the tears began in earnest and she buried her face in her shoulder. Ryune couldn't blame her, she knew how much Alisae cared about them all and how devastated she must have been to see her like she was.

"Sweet...girl..." Ryune said even more quietly so no one else could hear. It was something she had mistakenly said to her before in private, and had been told to never say again, but it seemed appropriate here. "It's okay...Ali...my sweet...girl."

They continued like that for a few minutes before Alisae managed to regain some semblance of composure. The others had maintained their distance, understanding how important it was to Alisae to have this time.

"I suppose it would be rude to keep you all to myself." Said Alisae, sniffling and wiping away her tears. "Y'shtola and Krile had just come to check on you when you woke up."

Alisae gestured to the door and they come foward. Krill hopped up on what was likely some stepstool for the Lalafel physicians to use. "Well, I daresay it worked, Krile." Y'shtola said, referring to something they seem to have done.

"And hardly any leakage as far as I can tell." Krile added, her hand hovering over Ryune's chest. "You gave us quite the scare, you know."

Ryune nodded. "What...leakage?" She asked, wondering just what it was they had had to do to her.

Y'shtola spoke first, "When fighting Zenos, you had to dig deeper into your aethereal reserves than you ever had before, much deeper than it was thought to be manageable through conscious effort."

"So much so, in fact, that you essentially broke the vessel meant to contain it." added Krile.

"Imagine it like a dam holding in your aether," Y'shtola explained, "it opens to let your aether through, but here it couldn't withstand the demand. It was as if the very structure of that dam had been eroded by the flow."

"Your body refused to hold on to the aether we tried to give you." Krile moved her hand away, satisfied with what she felt. "We had to, in essence, rebuild that dam."

"While also channeling enough aether into you such that you didn't run completely dry." Y'shtola continued, "It took a few days before we understood what was happening, and a few more before we managed to patch up enough for aether to build up within you again."

"But, once we got the process started, your body was able to take over and begin rebuilding and filling with aether once more!" Krile smiled down at her, clearly excited to be explaining it. "We pioneered an entire method of aetherial therapy in the effort to bring you back!"

"That's a bit dramatic, but also not untrue. The real trouble was finding enough aether, but once the news got out there was certainly no shortage of volunteers to donate their time." Y'shtola peered over her, taking thorough mental notes about her aetherial condition. "And as far as I can tell you should be well on the road to recovery." She smiled, clearly both proud of their accomplishment and happy to have her back.

"Just don't push too hard too fast, please, we still don't know how much strain it will take." Alisae piped in, "It should be fine, but...well I think I've had enough worrying over you in a sick bed for a lifetime or two."

Ryune looked at them all, finding herself wondering how such amazing people had come to cherish some fugitive refugee street cat enough to go through all that. "I don't...know how to...thank you...for all that."

"You thank us by getting better." Krile stated. The other two nodded in assent. "You've done more than enough for us."

"Agreed," said Y'shtola, "you've more than earned a rest."

"Come, Alisae, let's let her rest." Krile patted Alisae on the shoulder. "Plus, there's someone who I think might want a few words alone."

Looking to the door, Ryune could see a new sandy blur. The others said their goodbyes and made their way to the door, Ryune giving Alisae a reassuring squeeze of her hand before she let go. They promised to visit again soon, and then they were gone.

The sandy blur approached, resolving into M'naago, dressed in casual Ala Mhigan clothes, and looking a lot cleaner than usual. The doctor, whom Ryune had forgotten was even there, spoke first.

"I'll leave you two alone, your vitals look fine and now it's a matter of your recovery." He looked to M'naago, "If there's any change, please let one of our staff know immediately."

"Of course." M'naago took her place next to the bed as the doctor vacated the room. They two Miqo'te looked at each other for a long moment.

"You...smell nice..." Ryune remarked. She noticed that M'naago was breathing more rapidly than usual. Did she run here?

"You travel the stars, save us all, almost die, and that's the first thing you say to me?" M'naago smiled in spite of herself. "You big dumb brave idiot, you absolute fool." She grabbed Ryune's hand, "I was there at the landing. I was ready to come and greet you for your heroic return, but when you were rushed away looking so pale, I was so sure you were gone." Silent tears began to roll down her cheeks, and Ryune felt a desperate urge to wipe them away. "Thancred saw me starring at you and told me, told us all gathered, that you had been hurt and that you needed help. He assured us you would be okay, but I had been around you all long enough to know when he was acting. He was terrified."

"I wanted you...to be safe...to know..." Ryunes voice failed her before she could complete her though, but in this she saw opportunity to show what she meant. "Closer."

M'naago leaned in, her ear close to hear her better.

"Look." Ryune said, her pulse rising a little.

When M'naago turned to look at her, her face was only a few inches away. Using what strength she had, she closed the distance. The last time they had kissed seemed an eternity ago, under the shadow of an Imperial invasion, right before the Scions were whisked away one by one to the First.

It felt so soft. As Ryune's strength failed and she fell back onto her pillow, M'naago followed her down.

"I...love you..." Ryune confessed softly as they separated. She had never said that before, but it felt so right to in this moment. "I thought of you...at the end..."

" I love you, too." M'naago replied, seeming so much less tense than before. "I wanted to tell you that, to be the one to run up and tell you when you got back."

"Seems I really...missed out, huh." Ryune's voice was coming back more now with use, and it felt like it took a lot less effort to speak the words.

"So many came so far to see you. So many well wishers." She gestured to the window on the other side of Ryune. She hadn't been able so see before, but now she noticed just how many flowers and cards and trinkets were on the windowsill. "We even had to talk down a few beast tribes from summoning specifically to help you."

Ryune could tell she wasn't even joking about that. She knew there were a lot of people she had helped and a lot of problems she had helped solve, but seeing all these things here with her seemed to put it into perspective. She wasn't some street cat, nor just the Warrior of Light, she had become a hero to them, united them. It was a lot to take in. She noticed so many flowers from everywhere she had been, from Limsa to Kugane.

"So many," Ryune noticed, "even Garleans." She pointed weakly with her right hand to a flower she had only seen in her time there. To think that the people she once despised most would be well wishers, too.

"Even Gaius came by." Mnaago added, "He said something about his work being done at last, and that it was time to give back."

"That sounds right." Ryune took a few steady breaths, simply happy to have M'naago here with her. "How did you know?" She thought it odd that she knew what another visitor had said like that.

M'naago looked a bit sheepish, "Alisae and I have been taking turns watching over you. It's probably the only reason the doctor left me alone with you."

"Almost a month." Ryune said, "You really sat...here with me...all that time."

"Well, half the time at least. Ali had one of us here every day to keep an eye on you."

"You called her Ali." Ryune smiled, "Either she really...likes you, or she doesn't...know you just said that."

"A little of both, actually. We have become good friends in our stewardship over you. She's so much softer and more caring than she would ever let on."

"I know. She caries around so much...for someone so young. I can't help but try...to lighten the load." Ryune noticed a slight movement in the doorway and a hint of red fabric moving out of the frame. "She's so brave and strong...and a joy to...have as a friend." Ryune said, just a little louder. She was pretty sure she could hear flustered Alisae noises in the hallway. They spent a long moment in silence holding hands, M'naago resting her head on Ryune's shoulder much like Alisae had.

After what seemed like somehow both hours and only a few seconds, M'naago spoke. "Well, I know you need rest, but I'll be by often, okay?" Mnaago stood upright as if to make to leave.

"No!" Ryune said, slightly surprised by how forceful she said it. "I mean, I would like you to stay a little longer, if you can."

"Of course." Mnaago kneeled back down. "As long as you like." Gently, she bonked her forehead into Ryune's. "I'll be here for you."

It was all she could ask for. Before long, Ryune had fallen asleep, a normal one this time, and dreamed of a brighter tomorrow.

[minti-tales]

Vierapril, Day 2 - Payment

The Signora undergoes her last hunt on a broken world, far, far away from The Source.

The Signora: One of the voices in Minti Chocolate's "Choir." Governs Greed and the drive to see a difficult fight finished.

Endwalker spoilers ahoy.

CW: Violence, language, implications of abuse/harm.

Blackbreath was taking too long to expire. But, that was to be expected, wasn't it, given he was a voidsent in the form of an oversized, malevolent head.

Still. The least he could do was not bawl like livestock bound for the dinner table. "Mistress will come for you!" He screeched, his eyes lolling back in their sockets. "When she does, I shall- icckkk - milk you for all the aether in - acckk - in you." What awful manners. Such disgusting language.

"What is it with you lot and milking?" The voidsent called Signora gritted their teeth and pressed their shadowy claws round Blackbreath's "throat," as much as they could wager the throat was. Giant heads didn't have much below the neck, as it were. "Have we unfinished business in the bed chambers?" Their stocky frame, wrapped up in tattered black robes and cloths, moved up and down in a mockery of laughter. "Tell me where you saw the torn curtains, and I'll let you live. Defy me, and you'll never milk another teat for as long as you exist."

"Up- upstairs! In the gardens!" Oh dear. Blackbreath was looking a touch ill. Pity all the chirgeouns died in the Contra Memoria, else he might live to see another day. What passed for day in this rotted-out husk of a world. Surely the Signora would reward the perverted thing for their aid - a proper payment, perhaps. She could feel him straining to look at her, his whole mass writhing against her claws.

It wasn't always like this, hunting from the shadows, grasping for what little aether remained in Castle Troia.

Once, upon a very long time ago, Signora possessed a living, breathing body. And a name, a beautiful name, but she forgot what it was. She was an opera singer, beloved by all and favored by the Lady Beatrice. There were other birds who sung in the lady's gardens, but they were never as pretty or as well versed as Signora. The things she had to do to silence those warbling sopranos - oh! Awful. Best not to dwell on them, if she could even remember what they were.

Then came the Contra Memoria, the flood of Darkness upon the land, the eternal twilight that consumed everything and everyone in its path. Or had the dark always been there, biding its time as the Signora did before her terrible deeds?

What irony, Signora thought, that the pretty birds in Beatrice's court were transformed into succubi and sent off to Darkness-knows-where. They could do as they pleased with the desperate souls who summoned them. She, however, was left with scraps even the court hounds would reject. Why, she didn't even have eyes anymore, or a throat, or much of anything to aid her!

Blackbreath, the wretch, was consumed like the fuel he was meant to be. Signora made sure his last moments were especially painful, for some scrap of her former self remembered the cruelty he inflicted on her, once upon a time. Never again would she be humiliated in front of the Lady Beatrice's court, nor in her private chambers, not even in that blasted observatory.

Never. Again.

Violence begets violence, a philosopher once said. Surely they never had to get their claws dirty, squeezing every last drop of aether out of a voidsent. Not even once.

Signora moved between flickers of torchlight and candles, up the stairs to the gardens, up, up, up. No one could see her - no one should. The flicker, the "torn curtains," as Blackbreath described it, meant that there was a breach between realities. Someone from the Source was performing a summoning ritual, and that someone would be Signora's way out of this torment, whether they wished it or not.

And there it was, right at the top, a pulsating red tear between the Signora's world and another's. There were voices coming out of it: a feminine voice, and another too garbled to be understood. Not that that mattered. All the voidsent had to do was put a claw into the rift, and-

~~~

"Take up this crystal, Minti Chocolate, and attest to both worlds that you walk as a reaper. Bind yourself to the void, and claim the strength that the weak of heart shun.

Through the avatar at your side does the voidsent bring its power to bear, feeding upon the souls of the fiends you cut down in return. Not a bad arrangement, eh?

But I'm sure you tire of words. Here ─ the traditional weapon of our order. Let's see how it looks strapped to your back."

[paintedscales]

MINDFULLNESS– Do they live in the moment? What keeps them present?

SELF-EFFICACY– Does the end justify the means? How to they approach their goals? Do they blame others for their own faults or admit them?

RESILIENCE– How do they handle loss or failure? What helps them stay resilient and bounce back from loss or failure?

Some for you! <3

Hihi, Pinxli! Thank you so much for the ask and all of the different options from that original post! \ o w o / Tackling this while I'm taking a short mental break from doing art. :'D Much appreciated for the distraction for sure!

Positive Psychology OC Ask Meme

MINDFULLNESS– Do they live in the moment? What keeps them present?

Nomin sure does do her best to! Though she's definitely more stuck in the past than she is looking ahead or in the present. I truly feel like the events of Endwalker, where these great things and securing safety happens, not to mention getting that much needed closure, really helps her get out of that mental cycle. Or at least, it certainly helps her pick herself up better to walk forward with her head held high.

When Nomin finally has all that sense of peace, she can finally kind of live for herself more than anyone else. She has it when she's on the island by herself, away from everyone. It helps her keep her mind and vision clear when she's creating a life for herself with Estinien as a part of it. She especially starts living more in the moment once the twins are born, and then when Hami is born.

SELF-EFFICACY– Does the end justify the means? How to they approach their goals? Do they blame others for their own faults or admit them?

I would say yes for Nomin, that the ends justifies the means -- especially when it comes to any pureblood Jhungid that is in her way at the time (and even if she ever runs into them again in the future). She doesn't care about the actions of individual Jhungid, they're all the same to her. Even in one of my writings that I had, her obsession with how much she hates them leads to introspective musings like this:

Khojin was actually relatively pleasant to speak with when she was not training with her spear. She left more of a positive impression on Nomin, though not enough to dispel her hatred of those in command within the orda. Khojin was a younger member who had taken the place of one of their parents that had been trusted by Harghasun prior when she came of age. Nomin sometimes wondered if they could have been friends were things different.

Nomin has a habit of blaming herself a lot for things that aren't her fault, and then lashing out when things crop up that remind her of her trauma.

As for approaching their goals. I've mentioned a lot how Esenaij haunts Nomin's narrative, and he does this until Endwalker. Like, he's always there, guiding some of her actions. His words always repeat in her head in certain scenarios.

Run.

You're too impatient; curb it.

You can't rely solely on mimicking my actions when it comes to fighting for yourself or for others. You have to take yourself into account when using your weapon.

So a lot of this tends to influence Nomin's approach to things unless she has been enraged. In which case, a lot of that goes out the window. She'll face her rage head on, she'll become impatient, and she'll forget sometimes to take herself into account when fighting. Because she's blind. Simple as that. Blinded by her own rage.

RESILIENCE– How do they handle loss or failure? What helps them stay resilient and bounce back from loss or failure?

Depends on how far Nomin fell and also if / how it affects the people around her.

Nomin's not easily consoled by words some of the time -- it's kind of a thing she took from the Qestir. "Words are air." Like, if she feels like people around her are in danger because of her, it brings her right back to how she felt when she left the Sagahl behind the first time after freeing them and herself from the Jhungid. In such cases, she needs to start believing that she is enough and pick herself back up on her own time.

Sometimes this means turning her back on those she cares about in order to collect herself. Some belief that if she's out of the picture for however long, it means that the people she cares about will be the safer for it.

People stubbornly staying in Nomin's life has made this...hard. Haha. It's hard for her to feel like people want to stay in her life because of these ideas and views she has about herself that are all just internalized. Impostor syndrome. She doesn't feel like she deserves it, she has a hard time believing a lot of it is genuine for a time. Even if her Echo doesn't really indicate false intent in regards to those people.

But people staying in Nomin's life has also made it to where she can pick herself back up and do it not just for her, but for them as well. Especially once she starts accepting that they do care about her and want to see her succeed and be happy.