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shivasdarknight · 2 years ago

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#wolqotd; how was your wolship’s first kiss? what triggered it and what happened after?

...Yeah, so I need to detail five of those? Just going to put that under the cut. This is all for Surkie, btw - I don’t really have a lot for the others, at the moment.

(Also yes I know I answered something similar to this but I have more details this time + Gwen is involved now)

Chronological is probably the best route to go with this, so Aymeric’s is first. It’s also the most complicated one because it really wasn’t a nice kiss. Even though Surkukteni had been planning on confessing to him that she’d wound up developing feelings for the guy (and she was sort of lowkey having a freak-out over it because she’d never developed feelings for a man before), the assassination attempt happened soon after she got the idea to. It instantly reminded her of what happened to Ysayle - especially because she’d been planning on confessing and then Azys Lla happened! - and it solidified the fact for her that she was cursed, and anyone she dared to like would get dragged down with her. So while Surkukteni was swearing she’d never get herself entangled with another relationship (as her ex, Misaki, was abusive, and she’d assumed Ysayle died), the dipshit Aymeric was planning to confess himself. And he did, while still nursing that injury. It led to a really tense conversation and a panic attack on Surkukteni’s end as she rejected him on the spot, but it was still a teary kiss that punctuated that rejection: she did like him, she just didn’t want to see him get killed because of her. So even if they still did things together after that, that pretense of her being deeply traumatized colored everything - including their first kiss. But like let’s also be fair to them: they did start off their relationship with a really sweet kiss in assurance that they were both serious about things this time around, and at least for Surkukteni it was upholding the promise she’d made back when he first confessed.

Estinien’s the next one and it’s a fucking mess, but what about their relationship isn’t? During the trip to find the Borlaaq, their first kiss is simultaneously their first time: a slew of bad decisions, getting extremely emotionally vulnerable, drinking more than usual to where it led to things getting handsy - thus, the drunken fling that started this mess. Surkukteni barely remembers it, just remembers the embarrassment and mortification during the morning after. Estinien sure as hell remembers what happened and it’s hard to deny since he has faint scars from fumbling kisses and gouging his face on her horns (which admittedly is fairly common with him since they’re both reckless as all hell). It’s still a really embarrassing subject, so they don’t really talk about it. Even if they were to bring up the teary kiss after the nightmare instance in 5.3, that’d still be too vulnerable for their liking even if that’s when they solidified their relationship. So it definitely happened; they just hate talking about it.

Ysayle’s is next, and I’ve written it in a fic! There’s two instances that technically count: the 5.0 instance in a messed up dream, and then the 5.4 instance where they’re actually in person. So lemme just-

5.0:

There was something new that caught her attention. A figure sat at the edge of a ruined fountain, legs curled into themself and back turned towards Surkukteni. They weren’t too far away, but the dream made it frustratingly difficult to discern who it was. Curiosity getting the best of her, Surkukteni moved to investigate.

She really should’ve guessed who it was. Barely illuminated, Ysayle’s hair glistened in the faint starlight as she stared out over the ruins of the Churning Mists, seemingly unaware of Surkukteni’s approach. But why would she be? Was this Ysayle really that different from the landscape the Warrior navigated — a figment of the dream she inhabited? She remained despondent, head turned towards the spot where Ratatoskr apparently died, but Surkukteni couldn’t see her eyes to confirm if that was where her gaze was anchored or if it was to the raging void below.

But of course, Surkukteni was caught.

“Are we doomed to repeat the same outcomes?” was Ysayle’s pained voice, ringing clear from where she sat. “I thought to make a substantial change, and yet you find me anyways.”

It was embarrassing to admit that Surkukteni flinched, hesitating and doubting herself and her plan. Her hand retracted, fingers curling in on themselves as she took a half step back, suddenly unsure if this was a good idea. The half of her mind influenced by the dream told her that Ysayle wouldn’t want to be near her, but the other half reminded her of where they stood and that it frankly didn’t matter — this was Surkukteni’s subconscious fucking with her yet again.

Eyes cast to the ground next to Ysayle, it marked her target as she quietly moved to join her, legs tucked up to her chest and horn resting against her knee to look at the distant face of her dead love. Her eyes were — indeed — trained on the site of Ratatoskr’s death, red like she’d been crying as she wouldn’t look at Surkukteni.

“I think it’s on me,” she finally muttered, turning away and following Ysayle’s gaze. “You don’t even know how much I’ve been denying myself — for the sake of others, to not get hurt again.” It hurt to speak as her head hung low, looking down at her black sabattons. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

When no response came, Surkukteni was convinced she’d messed up somehow. That this would truly reveal itself to be the nightmare it was, to delve her further into despair when she was already in deep. But she instead found herself surprised as Ysayle’s hand closed around hers, getting her to look over at the leader of the heretics.

“Is it that outlandish to believe that I harbor feelings for you?” was a light laugh from Ysayle, deeply self deprecating and sad. “So outlandish it sets you into a panic that forces us to start over?”

Surkukteni squeezed her hand back, leaning over to rest her forehead against Ysayle’s shoulder. “It’s more than that,” she muttered, but refused to elaborate on. “And it’s not just you that I do this too, admittedly.”

“No, but I presume the others aren’t doomed to follow the same script every time you reject them.”

Those icy fingers found her jaw again.

Ysayle tilted Surkukteni’s head up, forcing them to meet the other’s eye. That she was crying was just cruel on the dream’s part, or at least looked to have been crying at some point. “But if my actions are what cause this to repeat, then I’ll stop. If we’re required to follow this faithfully to its intended course, then so be it.”

In a twist of the script, Ysayle let go.

Pain twisted in Surkukteni’s chest, clutching her heart and threatening to crush it. Ysayle turning away from her made it worse, scrambling to think of something — anything — to say as she cursed herself out for fucking up yet again. Her mouth opened and closed to no avail as she sat up, grabbing Ysayle’s wrist in a frantic attempt to catch her attention.

“Wait.”

Ysayle stiffened, but looked back regardless.

“I meant it when I said it was on me.” Surkukteni loosened her grip, shifting her gloved hand to mirror Ysayle’s pose and pull them closer together. It was Ysayle’s turn to freeze, her eyes widening just the slightest as Surkukteni stopped them just before her horns might harm her.

“I’m a damned coward, and I can’t keep running away from this — from you.” You, your memory, your death. “And for that, I need to fix this.”

Surkukteni closed the distance between them.

Ysayle’s lips were impossibly cold — something she’d fantasized about during their trip, yet was something that simultaneously felt almost like kissing a corpse; frigid and stiff. There was no reaction, just a still body underneath her as she tried to follow Ardbert’s advice. But an unreciprocated kiss was never fun, leading to her pulling away soon after to find a look of shock in the other woman’s eyes.

Dread filled Surkukteni immediately. Her hand faltered, falling off Ysayle’s face as she began to back up. “I’m sorry.” Her throat closed in on itself, panic filling her breast in a matter of moments. “That was wrong of me. I should’ve left well enough alone, and I’m sorry.”

There was still no response from Ysayle. She sat perfectly still, a frigid statue in the ruins as her eyes seemed to unfocus. Truly, this would be where things go to straight to the Seven Hells and leave Surkukteni scarred as it didn’t even appear that Ysayle was breathing. Would she just wake up from this nightmare already?

But just as hope had begun to abandon Surkukteni, her face was seized once again as Ysayle crashed into her haphazardly and met her in a deep and desperate kiss.

The kiss stole Surkukteni’s breath away, but gods was she quick to reciprocate. It didn’t seem like Ysayle had cut herself open on her horns — a perfect angle — as Surkukteni further deepened it, pushing Ysayle back as gloved hands slotted perfectly along the curve of her spine. Ysayle’s own hands began to wander, sliding across her jaw and down her scaly neck. They toyed with the seam of skin and scale and tucked underneath Surkukteni’s white coat, sliding over defined shoulders to try and shrug the damn thing off — only to meet resistance.

A frustrated sound escaped Ysayle, breaking Surkukteni’s focus as a laugh bubbled out of her. It was a dream, she’d figure things go smoothly and yet this apparition was struggling to remove her coat. She pulled back to a noise of protest, a word of assurance slipping from her as she began to undo the buckles of her gloves — deceptive things that reached the middle of her upper arm, thick white fabric obscuring the true heavy chainmail beneath that hit the ground loudly as each one was removed. She’d not the chance to deal with her coat — the long white, black and gold thing that had been so thoroughly tied to her image as the Warrior of Light back then — as Ysayle’s exploratory hands found themselves under it again. They traced the curve of her biceps, sliding the coat off slowly as she explored the toned and muscular length of Surkukteni’s arms and exposed them in the process. She did this all with bated breath, color rising in her face as she stared intently once the long overcoat was finally discarded in a pile near them.

The charismatic leader of the heretics was left speechless. Her hands trembled as she moved to recapture Surkukteni’s face, not meeting her in a kiss yet but instead taking the opportunity to explore her further — the hard lines of the tendons that defined the column of her throat down to her sharp collarbone; further down still, following the line of her sternum to where her breast band was dangerously tied in the front. Icy eyes were trained to where her fingers hovered, blinking up for confirmation but still unable to say anything.

5.4:

“I thought for sure I’d only see you again if I died,” Surkukteni admitted suddenly, gripping Ysayle’s hand tighter as her eyes screwed shut, banishing the gold that haunted Ysayle’s thoughts. “And yet...And yet, here you are.”

A weak laugh escaped Ysayle, realizing the gaelicat would have to come out of the bag soon. She took one of Surkukteni’s hands in both of hers as she traced new scars and calluses, picking at the marred skin with a heavy sigh. “I tried to tell you. To hold out a bit longer, but you didn’t seem to take it well.”

The longest, most painful pause of them all was drawn between the two. Surkukteni’s snapped wide open, mouth agape as her fangs easily caught the dim light and made them stand out all that much more. “No godsdamned way.” Her hands retracted, covering her face as she sat silent, and when Ysayle moved to catch her hand again she could distinctly feel heat radiating from Surkukteni’s face — getting a loud groan in response. “Oh, don’t you get into the habit of that, too.”

A confusing statement if there ever was one, but it didn’t deter her from cupping Surkukteni’s face as she laughed an awkward laugh, feeling her own face similarly heat up. “Your remark aside, yes. If we both mean the odd dreams we were stuck in — a shared memory of the Churning Mists—” Surkukteni’s eyes only grew wider; her face, even hotter, “—then yes. ...I can only apologize for my inability to clarify within the confines of the dream. I’d not intended on causing you to spiral.”

Even though she relished in the heat that coursed underneath her palms, Ysayle still dropped her hands with a sigh. “But the dreams were mostly just that. I’d thought it wish fulfillment at first, but you seemed too aware of the circumstances. I only want to apologize for my actions then, as I should have assumed you’d moved on after—”

In a rush of movement, Ysayle found herself silenced. Her words were smothered in a frantic kiss, pain shooting through her cheek as warm blood dripped down and off her jaw. A sharp gasp escaped her, eyes blown wide as before she could reciprocate, Surkukteni pulled back — frantic and startled.

“Shit.” A rough hand dragged over the wound on Ysayle’s face, and it was then that she caught the blood that faintly glistened on one of Surkukteni’s black horns. “I didn’t mean—I’m sorry, I should’ve—” She paused, swallowing hard. “I should’ve been more careful, hurting you is—”

Surkukteni was silenced, much the same as Ysayle had been. She felt the other side of her face scraped in turn, but it wasn’t nearly as deep as the gouge that still bled freely. Besides, it was worth the risk, was it not? Why say with words when actions could surely suffice? Surkukteni startled beneath her at the kiss, but returned the affection in no time. ‘Twas only after they parted did Ysayle feel that delightful heat return to Surkukteni’s face tenfold.

“Gods, let me fix that,” Surkukteni muttered, shame of all things welling up in her voice. “Please.”

“That’s not my foremost concern,” Ysayle said through a laugh, brushing the blood from her face and wiping it on her frilly, blue dress.

Yeah I’m. A tiny bit obsessed with them. Again, here’s the fic. I swear I’m normal.

Gwendoline was during 6.0. And I’m awful, because even this hurts me. The kiss happens during Ultima Thule, right after most of the group had been sacrificed and it was down to Surkukteni, Gwendoline, and the twins. Which means Estinien and Ysayle did that bullshit in Reah Tahra, Y’sthola (Gwendoline’s girlfriend) was gone with Urianger and Katsuro, so needless to say both Surkie and Gwen were stressed and distraught! Especially because Gwendoline didn’t buy that they could come back. ...So get to the part where the twins sacrifice themselves, and Gwen goes with them. Surkukteni obviously protests this - it’d leave her alone, she didn’t want to see the twins end up like this after promising Ameliance that she’d keep them safe, the fact that two people she considers family and her best friend were about to all sacrifice themselves - but that’s when Gwendoline stops and apologizes. Visibly confused and starting to shut down and go non-verbal, Gwendoline continues through Surkukteni’s silence to apologize for not being braver and saying something sooner; something at a better time for when she could’ve actually done something about it and they could’ve had something. A secret she’d kept to herself for years, but only now choosing to act on it when all else was gone: kissing Surkukteni good-bye, and wishing her the best in overcoming the Endsinger. And it all hits Surkie like a load of bricks as she watches her best friend disappear like that; admitting something she hadn’t even realized was a thing and immediately having her heart break for the third time that day and nearly paralyzing her with guilt and grief. Because all the feelings she’d once had for Gwen suddenly came rushing back and reminding her that yes, she did like her best friend and now her best friend was gone. It very nearly kills her, and it takes Surkie’s everything to keep going. ....And y’know, everyone does come back. Which is something not a lot of them thought would happen, which included Gwendoline. So after the (REWRITTEN) scene of the Scions coming back and them preparing for the Dead Ends, Surkukteni goes to confront Gwen about that kiss. And without explaining herself, she just grabs the front of Gwen’s dress (since Gwen is a fair amount taller than her) and meets her in a passionate, reciprocating kiss. Admitting that yeah, the feelings were mutual and she wants to see things through so they can actually act on this for once. AND THEN THE ENDSINGER FIGHT SHIT HAPPENS. AND THE FINAL FIGHT. So yeah, they’re even on “scaring the other to death at the end of Endwalker” thing. And yes, they’re finally together - after seven fucking years.

For Venat, it was during 6.2. They’d started to somewhat see each other - and Venat was also seeing Ysayle? - but nothing had really happened except dragging Venat across the realm so she could experience the place for herself. Get to 6.2 and the group is headed off to the Void, and Venat goes to see them off and present Surkukteni with a present: a conjured scythe she’d created from leftover Hydaelyn nonsense so that she might better protect herself in the Void. Completely taken aback by the gesture, Surkukteni was at a loss for words and just kissed her in thanks instead. ...In front of everyone. Y’shtola and Estinien don’t let her live this down.

Bonus for Gwen and Venat: during the gap between 6.1 and 6.2, Gwen spends a lot of time around Venat as she helps her get on her feet and actually recover a bit better. The two spend a lot of time together just talking about how much things had changed; about how Venat had truly picked the worst people for the job considering Gwendoline’s necromantic studies. And it’s while they’re talking about Gwendoline’s seeming ill-fittedness among the Warriors of Light - and her acknowledging that Hydaelyn was more of an answering machine than anything conscious - Venat admits that at some points there was a bit more deliberation, especially when it concerned those close to Charon’s reincarnation. And she admits that she knew what Gwendoline was doing and knew that it wasn’t malicious - just a pure curious streak with all intention of reviving magicks that could potentially help people. And it’s under the starry night sky in the streets of Radz-at-Han that Venat admits that it was more about the strength of Gwendoline’s character that she’d shown back in Elpis; knowing the person she’d become, and wanting to help nurture that growth and that curiosity even if it didn’t seem reasonable at the time Gwen’s Echo awakened. Gwen tries to dodge around the topic suddenly, but it gets brought up that she stupidly caught feelings for Venat immediately upon seeing her - the second person for that ever to happen for her - and muttering about how hard this was, and how she didn’t understand how people functioned like this normally. And Venat just takes her by the chin and asks her if - if allowed - they could get to know each other better so that the feelings can make sense to Gwen. Whiiiicchhh leads to their first kiss.

theres a lot here,

#answered wol questions #original #wol #surkukteni #surkie #gwendoline #gwen #wol question #wol questions #aymeric #estinien #ysayle #venat #wolvenat #wolysayle #wolestinien #wolaymeric #oc x oc #ff #ffxiv #final fantasy #final fantasy xiv #HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IM GARBAGE AND I LOVE THEM #i need you to understand that the time it took gwen from meeting to dating yshtola was about two to three years #and venat was a few months but it felt instantaneous to gwen because she usually doesn't catch feelings that fast #but surkie was SEVEN FUCKING YEARS #she admittedly caught feelings around post arr or hvw but like #she kept it to herself because not only was she worried about rejection #since surkie was focusing so heavily on flings to drown out the bullshit of her abusive ex #but also the shit w ysayles assumed death deeply traumatized surkie and she didnt want to aggravate it w a relationship

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cinnabun-faerie · 10 months ago

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FFXIV {May 2022 Masterlist}

✧Group HC & Reactions✧

F!WoL singing Girls/Girls/Boys (Lyna, Minfilia, Y'shtola, Ysayle)

WoL buying a house in Ishgard (Aymeric, Estinien, Haurchefant, Lucia)

WoL being taller than them (Aymeric, Emet-Selch, Estinien, Fandaniel, G'raha Tia, Thancred, Y'shtola, Zenos)

Sick WoL (Aymeric, Urianger)

Miqo'te!WoL who bunts & purrs subconsciously when they're around (Ardbert, Artoirel, Erenville, Gaius)

Worst moments ffxiv character could confess to the WoL / Asking the WoL to marry them (Haurchefant, Emet-Selch, Urianger)

Fandom Dads - He escorts you down the aisle (Barbatos, Edmont de Fortemps, Estinien, Lucifer, Shota Aizawa, Simeon, Thancred, All Might, Urianger)

Special Threesome HCs (Zenos x Reader x Fandaniel)

They comfort the WoL after they receive some bad news (Emet-Selch, Urianger)

Antagonists & the films they'd choose for movie nights (Emet-Selch, Fandaniel, Hermes, Zenos)

How they'd protect their beloved WoL if they met someone who made them feel uncomfortable (Artoirel, Aymeric, Estinien, Haurchefant, Hythlodaeus, Urianger)

How they’d handle the Ishgardians' negativity towards genderfluid!WoL

WoL that absolutely loves picking fights with others for the sake of thrill or battle glory (Alisaie, Alphinaud, Estinien, G'raha Tia, Thancred, Urianger, Y'shtola, Zenos)

WoL gives them a flower crown (Alisaie, Alphinaud, Estinien, G'raha Tia, Thancred, Urianger, Y'shtola)

Tank!WoL is reckless yet protective of their S/O (Alphinaud, Urianger)

✧Solo HC & Reactions✧

G’raha with a Miqo’te WoL S/O

Crystal Exarch realizes that the WoL is using his old bow he left behind when he sealed himself away in the tower

WoL misses Alphinaud so much that they pay him a visit in Garlemald

Estinien Proposal HCs

Aymeric Proposal HCs

WoL finding out Y'shtola can purr

Artoirel Proposal HCs

Alphinaud Proposal HCs

Whenever Miqo'te!WoL and Y'shtola sit together, their tails unconsciously wrap around the other's

Haurchefant Proposal HCs

G'raha Tia Proposal HCs

Emet-Selch playing Neath Dark Waters for the WoL

Y'shtola Proposal HCs

Alphinaud reacts to an Asexual WoL

With a demisexual lover who confesses to their crush, who doesn’t care/is using them

Alphinaud with a sick S/O

Fandaniel Proposal HCs

Zenos Proposal HCs

Urianger Proposal HCs

Thancred Proposal HCs

Gaius Proposal HCs

Erenville Proposal HCs

#ffxiv masterlist #2022 masterlist

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eemamminy-art · 3 months ago

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fanfic ask game! 14, 15, 44 😊🧡

14. Go on, who are your BroTPs?

I dooon't know if this is something I'd call a brotp in the sense of like bro kinda vibes, but I assume by that terminology it's just like, characters I like to imagine as good friends? And the first thing that comes to mind for me is this AU my friend and I have where Emet hides Ryne away from Hydaelyn and she ends up becoming a little sister to Zenos 🥺 When I'm thinking about platonic characters that's where my mind first goes!!

For something a little less deeply obscure and uncanon though haha I like the friendship between Vrtra and Estinien, or the potential friendship anyway, and I would like to one day write a fic of Estinien helping Vrtra get through the emotional rollercoaster of 6.X patches. In his awkward, very Estinien way.

I don't know if this counts either but I love to think about all the friendships my wol has. He has a brotherly sort of relationship with Thancred and with the thaumaturge guild masters, and a very complicated friendship with Haurchefant. Minfilia was his best friend and he's still very torn up over everything that happened to her. I want to think he was pretty close with Lyse and tries to mentor Emmanellain (even though he's just as immature himself lol) too. I pretty rarely ship oc/canon with my own OCs but I love to think of their friendships and found family!!

15. Is there an obscure ship which you love?

Like… any f/f ship in ffxiv… They're all obscure 😭 Notably I really really like Fordola/Lyse, Ysayle/Heustienne, and M'naago/Kurenai to name a few off the top of my head. I also really like Hien/Yugiri but like, if Hien was a butch.

44. What ship do you feel needs more attention?

This might sound weird but I feel like the more attention a ship gets the more people get weirdly hostile toward it (for being perceived as popular, or genuinely becoming popular), or otherwise start diluting the ship down to something generic. I used to really crave seeing more works from other people about ships I like but lately I'm just kind of like, let me keep them to myself and my trusted group of friends who can be normal about things 😂

Fanfiction questions

#ask meme answers #replies

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nobutakafairclough · 7 months ago

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One more thing!

Apparently when I said my shrine to my favorite XIV ship was complete I was wrong. Thank you so much to @shinjyu for sending me these wonderful High School of Ishgard standees. I feel like this is such a cute display.

#エスイゼ #ysayle x estinien #ysayle dangoulain #ffxiv ysayle #Ysayle #final fantasy xiv #ffxiv #final fantasy 14 #ff14 #estinien #estinien varlineau #ff14 estinien #에스이젤

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tenebriism · 5 months ago

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Ship Bias + Estinien

Ship Bias - [ ACCEPTING ] ;;

Estinien x Aymeric ( of course ).

Estinien x G'raha Tia ( IT'S CUTE. Q_Q He would begrudgingly get attached to that sunshine cat man so quickly. )

Estinien x WoL.

Estinien x Ysayle ( oh, look! Another TRAGIC ship! )

#[ y'all are gonna have to pry estimeric from my cold dead hands. >:o ]#muse ;; ESTINIEN ( WISHLIST )

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phoenixmiko · 2 years ago

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Pairing Ask Meme: Final Fantasy XIV

OTP: Haurchefant x Warrior of Light.

Favourite NPC pairing: Urianger x Moenbryda. Estinien x Ysayle is a close second.

Worst pairing ever: Asahi x Zenos.

Guilty pleasure pairing: Thancred x Minfilia.

A pairing you want to see more: Aymeric x Lucia.

That pairing everybody likes but you’re like “LOL NO”: Emet-Selch x Warrior of Light.

Favourite non-romantic pairing: Alphinaud x Warrior of Light. They are my BrOTP. Alphinaud is like a little brother to my WoL and is one of her closest friends in the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.

#haurchewol #urianger x moenbryda #ffxiv #phoenixmiko #estinien x ysayle

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sundered-souls · 2 months ago

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12. How much does your OC's background and origin affect their approach to relationships? Are there specific insecurities or preferences that lead on from their past?

In short: a lot, and yes.

Slightly longer answer: I don't really see how it could not? For me, the background of a character must inform their decisions, romantically or otherwise, and I don't think anybody goes through life without insecurities.

How it affects their relationships is just too specific to each one of them to really give a general answer, though, so I've developed more under the cut how it affects my WoLships specifically. Fair warning: it's pretty long xD

Aïcha's origins don't influence her too much in the sense that both her ships started in a very unorthodox way regardless of culture. In a more traditional context, it probably would have played a bigger role, but at the same time she's been living abroad for a long time now. She's Thavnairian, yes, but she's picked up a lot of cultural habits from other places too and it's kind of a mix nowadays that wouldn't fit neatly in any particular culture.

Her backstory, however, left her with a lot of guilt that in HW and StB conditioned greatly how she reacted to both Estinien during their road trip and the subsequent patches, and then later on to Zenos in Rhalgr's Reach and beyond.

She's doing better now, but she was a mess. Although a mess capable of recognizing a just and kind man despite his anger, despite his hatred for dragons, despite his role in upholding Ishgard's interests. That Estinien would consider giving a chance to Ysayle to prove her point—and then follow through—made her respect him a lot. And it's truly what drew her to him. Respect.

And from his perspective, the absolute lack of judgement and the deep understanding of what he was going through, despite knowing very little of him, was very much not something he expected from a foreigner. But it's the mixture of both, influenced by their own history, that drew them to each other even post 3.X patches.

For Zenos... Their relationship, which only truly lasted from the second fight against him in Yanxia to the Liberation of Ala Mhigo, is one of projecting onto the other, self-destructiveness and mutual obsession.

In the game, Zenos is kinda meant to be a foil for the WoL in a "what if the WoL had never have a good support system and a just cause to fight for?" but that's not what happened to them. Aïcha has everything she wanted before she sacrificed a promising life to save her dad: a loving and dotting father, friends, hobbies, a promising career as a professional dancer. She's strong, she was above the others in her art and would have become famous rather quickly, but she never felt disconnected from people. And she worked hard to get there.

Zenos, to her, represented the worst in herself. Because she, too, had killed people for an unjust cause. And she might have had good reasons to take that path at first, but that made no difference to those who died by her hand. So she hated him because she saw herself in him and couldn't stand it. She wanted him gone because she wanted herself gone, and the entire time their relationship lasted was time spent punishing herself for failing the one person who had had faith in her ability to redeem herself: Haurchefant.

She saw zenos for himself for the first time during their fight in Ultima Thule, and she killed him in an act that serves to close the narrative arc that started when she joined the mob to save her father: by once again sacrificing a part of herself to protect someone she loved. This time their daughter, because there was no way she'd ever allow Zenos to know she existed.

But Zenos was actually her soulmate, so when I say she sacrificed a part of herself, it's literal. This life will be the last they ever crossed path in because she left his body in Ultima Thule, thus never allowing him to rejoin the Lifestream and finally putting an end to a cycle of meeting in every life since their ancient selves bound their souls together.

Inge's origins influence one specific aspect of any romantic relationship she currently has or will ever have, because there's one aspect from her people's culture she's not interested in throwing away at all: it was never expected for them to spend a lot of time with their partners. People from her village tend to live relatively solitary lives, meeting sometimes in Sjasaris—which is really more a place to meet each other, celebrate and communally raise children—but otherwise spent their time essentially on their own. And that's very much still what she's doing.

She'll see her partners on occasion, spend quality time with them, send gifts, etc. but she needs to be able to go as she pleases and just live her life without them being around.

If one of her partners one day cannot stand it anymore, that'd signify the end of the relationship pretty quickly because she's really not interested in doing things differently.

She did try though. Once. It was a few years after leaving the Jungle, in Kugane, with a woman she's never been officially with but also they raised her young daughter Hanae together for a while... until her lover's eventual betrayal.

And that betrayal is very much another thing that conditions a lot how she approaches relationships, romantic or otherwise. She's less hesitant now to allow people in her inner circle, but it's not a coincidence that both her wife and Shtola are principled, protective and don't bow to authority. Inge doesn't trust nor forgive easily.

It also took her a while after Carteneau to let herself believe that no, she wouldn't lose everyone and everything again. She's mostly there, though. Mostly.

And thank you for the ask, @ascendedhypothesis! I hope you don't mind the length.

#The More You Know #answered; Aïcha #answered; Inge #wolstinien #wolzenos #wolshtola #wolship

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thevikingwoman · 1 year ago

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Couldn't get the thought of Meryta and Tansui having a fling out of my head, so here we are. Stormblood spoilers.

Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV | Words: 2085 | Read on Ao3

After freeing Isari village and Gosetsu, the group decides to stay the night for a celebration in the village. The Warrior of Light; finds brief relief in the arms of kindred spirit Tansui.

Meryta Khatin x Tansui | After MSQ Tide Goes In, Imperials Go Out Rating: Explict. Sexual content, outdoors sex, fling, au ra scale sensitivity headcanons, slight timeline divergence, ode to Tansui's hair I guess

Under Familiar Stars

Someone has lit a bonfire at the beach, and there are plenty of people drinking and bragging, a release after the dread of oppression. Kicking the Empire out of their waters, and Isari, feels good, and she suspects especially for the Confederacy to feel at home in their own waters again. The wounded taken care of, and the fighters resting, many have chosen to remain here for the evening rather than return to Onokoro.

Their gambit worked, and it’s not as if she’s surprised – it had to work, but that it worked so well is very good. It would have been better had they captured the viceroy, but all in all the outcome is as good as she can hope for.

She walks through the people on the beach, young pirates and villagers sitting in the sand. Someone has pulled out a Shamisen and plays a happy tune, someone else is singing along.

Neither Lyse, Alisaie, or Gostetsu are with them, and perhaps they’ve already made their way to the beds the innkeep offered. They’re setting out early next morning; it was only on Alisaie’s insistence Gotsetsu relented to take a night’s rest.

She checks the porch in front of the inn, and she doesn’t find them there, and not many other people. Most have joined the revelry at the beach. She does find Tansui, leaning against the railing, an empty cup in his hands.

“Meryta,” he says.

“Tansui.”

She comes to stand next to him.

“So, things did work out for you. Mark you, I’m glad it did, you and the little Miss’s plan.”

“It had to work,” Meryta replies. “And you all did your part, too.”

“Only after –” he pauses, and looks directly at her. “Is that how things are for you? Just…” He snaps his fingers and gestures vaguely.

She thinks over the question. She does impossible things, with the crystal’s blessing and all that comes with it, whether she understands it or not. Another day and another primal dispersed. But not just that, and she thinks of Aymeric drawing his bow against Estinien possessed without a pause, about Papalymo telling her to leave, Ysayle falling from the sky. The dead bodies at Rhaelgar’s Reach and the blood in her mouth as Zenos rounded on her. (She doesn’t think of Haruchefant, dead on walkway, the fading light in his eyes)

“Not at all,” she says. But the truth is; they’ve won enough, whether in the crystals light or by the whim of an old dragon. “Sometimes. Often enough,” she amends.

“I can’t believe it. Glad am I you came here.”

The wind blows freshly from the seas. Tansui’s braid has loosened, the purple strands whipping about his nape. She tied her own hair back again earlier, a mess after the storms called by the Lord of Revel. She has the sudden desire to unravel his more, to see it falling loosely around his face, to run her fingers through it.

“Walk with me,” she says on impulse. She’ll miss him, and the boldness of his convictions.

They descend the stairs from the inn together, and walk away from the village and the people. The air smells like sea and salt. They reach the shore, the sea lapping at their feet.

“The Ruby Seas are yours,” Meryta says, gesturing to the dark waves. It’s incidental to why they’re here, but she’s happy it turned out this way. Despite their initial distance, she finds she likes the Confederacy pirates. The Ruby Tithe seems a way to maintain a balance here, but mostly they are just a comfortable and uncomplicated group.

“At least until the Empire turns it’s gaze upon us again.”

“Hopefully not too soon. We need security at our backs for what we need to do.”

Hopefully the Empire and the Viceroy will never gain a foothold here again, and they’ll succeed in all they need to do. For Lyse. For Raubahn. For Yugiri and her people.

“Did you bring me here to demand more from us?”

“No, just for a walk. I’m but thankful for all you did, and I’m glad you were here.”

“Were you now,” Tansui says, and he smiles. Meryta looks away.

Together they make it up from the beach towards the grass and trees. They talk quietly about the Confederacy and the delicate balance of nations around the Ruby Seas, and how the Garleans disturbed it, scorching all in their path. They meander their way past the fishing huts and up in the hills behind. She tells a little of Eorzea and her adventures, but mostly she turns the conversation to the Ruby Seas and the rhythm of the land and sea.

Mertya looks up and the stars are familiar, constellations in sky aligned in well-known positions from her childhood. The constellations are the same, but their placements in the sky are different half a world away. They’ve fallen silent now, Tansui follows her gaze up at the heavens.

She can’t help looking back at him, her eyes roaming down his neck and his chest, his haori sliding to reveal more of it. There’s a thin line of blood with a bruise blooming around it which she didn’t notice before. It’s likely the nick of sword.

“You’re injured,” she murmurs. Unbidden, she reaches for him. She doesn’t have much aether left from all the ordeals today, but perhaps she has enough, reaching for those stars above –

“Nothing serious.” Tansui smiles at her, his dark eyes tender in the moonlight. “There’s no need, unless - is that an excuse to touch me?”

She places her whole hand on his chest.

“Perhaps.”

The crisp air stills, and they’re alone, far from everyone else and Tansui’s hands land on her hips. He bends his head as she reaches up, both of them drawn to the spark between them. His lips are chapped, tasting like sea salt and battle, his beard delightfully rough against her skin. She groans and draws him closer, slipping her hands around his neck. They kiss hungrily, deeper, and she buries her hands in his hair, her desire to unravel it still in her mind.

Panting, they lean their foreheads against each other. She toys with hairs at his nape and leans in again, kissing him slower this time, savoring the taste of him. She brings her lips to his jaw, his beard scratching her lips, and she groans when his fingers carefully slide along her horns.

“Meryta, come. Let us celebrate our victory beneath the stars.”

There’s a question in his eyes, and when she nods, he leads them a little further uphill, then spreads his haoki on the ground, and pulls her down with him for a lazy kiss on the ground.

He has her undressed shortly, where they lay, and his hands are on her, tracing her scales across her hips and her belly. His touch is firm and bold, and she can’t help the sigh that escapes her as she reaches for him. His chest is firm and warm, old scars and new bruises. She makes short work of his pants too, the sea air embracing them.

She kisses him, and puts her fingers through his hair, finally unraveling it completely. Tansui’s hands wander back around her waist, and she gasps when one of them finds the base of her tail and strokes. He grins and does it again, his other hand cupping her sex.

“You do like that, hm?”

“Yes,” she hisses, hands roaming his body without focus. All she can feel is him, stroking the sensitive scales at the base of tail, now gripping the top of it, letting go. His other hand is busy too, finding the wetness between her legs. She gasps and she wants, grateful for a lover who’s been with an auri before, someone without shyness or questions.

He slides one finger between her slit, finding her clit. Another adds pressure, and she bucks her hips towards him. Her own hands slide lower, through the coarse hair on Tansui’s belly, following its trail lower still. Her fingers brush against his cock and it’s his turn to groan. Pleased, she takes him in hand, pushing herself towards him once more. She almost let go of him when he slides one finger into her, and his other hand down and up her tail.

“Please, Tansui,” she gasps, her hips tilting, seeking his hand, his fingers inside of her.

Instead of granting her what she wants, he grasps her tail firmly around the base, his hand almost wide enough to circle it, and he holds her in place as his other hand withdraws, featherlight strokes to tease her. She whines in frustration and claws at his hips, trying to pull him closer.

“Tell me, what do you want, Meryta?” he smirks, his breath thankfully still a bit strained.

Her cunt clenches around nothing, the fire of need building in her. Frantic, manic, and suddenly her ears are ringing, filled with the laughter of the Lord of Revel. She summoned him, and slayed him, all within today, and she needs and she wants and she’s here on their clothes spread beneath the stars.

She wrenches herself free, and moves them, putting Tansui on his back with her above him. He looks dazed and flushed.

“I want you, Tansui.” He lets out a little laugh at that, and she hovers above him, letting her slick coat his cock. “Do you want me?”

He nods, his hands on her waist now, but he doesn’t pull her down, waiting on her, letting her tease him now. Her impatience burns in her though, and she lowers herself on him, only a bit careful to adjust to him, letting him fill her, relishing in the fullness inside of her.

She moves slowly, at the pace she wants, drawing gasps from him. His hair is fanned out beneath him, almost evenly dark in the moonlight, the purple only a tone of grey. Tansui puts his hands between them, grinning as he finds her clit again.

Meryta rides him faster, his dark eyes never leaving hers. Even like this, his fingers are skilled and confident, his other hand caressing the sensitive scales on her hip. She tries to hold on a little longer, but she can’t, her orgasm washes over her, inevitable like the ocean far behind them.

“Beautiful,” Tansui whispers, “no, don’t close them!”

Meryta manages to keep her eyes open, but she sways and slumps in the aftershocks. Tansui’s strong arms catch her, and suddenly she’s on the ground beneath him, staring up at him, his hair in a curtain around his face.

“May I go on?” he asks, his voice rough. He accentuates with a small thrust of his hips. She gasps and nods and it’s enough for him as he moves faster, his eyes hungry. She sighs as he moves into her, swollen and sensitive, a pleasant feeling with no urgency. She’s free to observe him, how his veins strain in his neck, how he gasps and – unfairly, squeezes his eyes shut when as he comes, collapsing on top of her with her name on his lips.

They kiss, and Tansui rolls off her, cleaning them both with a scrap of fabric found somewhere, his calloused hands gentle and careful.

Without need for words, they curl into each other, and fall asleep beneath the stars.

It’s a short walk back to the village the next morning – much shorter than she expected and she’s thankful an early riser didn’t stumble upon them.

“There you are,” Alisaie says when she sees her, buckling her pack. “I was afraid we’d have to send out a search party.”

Meryta’s cheeks heat, and she ducks her head. “The inn was too crowded.”

Alisaie eyes narrows, focusing on the pirate behind Meryta, and then she smiles, far too innocent.

“I normally leave diplomacy and it’s intricacies to my brother, but I’m certainly glad we could arrive at a mutual beneficial conclusion.”

Meryta sputters and busies herself finding her travelling coat and packing her gear. She’s saved from further discussion when Gosetsu bellows from below, his rightful impatience showing. They all hurry outside for their final goodbyes.

“As Rasho said, our fates are intertwined. I do hope our future cooperations will be fruitful.”

Tansui addresses them all, but his gaze lingers on her, and when they get on their way, his hand brushes against her arm. She winks at him, one more levity before they return to their journey and grave task ahead.

#Final Fantasy 14 #ffxiv #ffxiv fanfic #wol x Tansui #meryta x tansui #writing about meryta #meryta khatin #I had fun with a fling #mery has a good time #much love for Tansui's hair #stormblood spoilers #viking writes #published 8/16/2023 #tansui #ffxiv tansui #woltansui

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