#yume x zenos

[firelightmuse]

Yume Aino & Zenos Galvus

In Post 6.0 & Dawntrail

Since Yume was encouraged by Zenos to teach herself Black Magic, Yume has become a fully self-taught Black Mage, while Zenos continues to use the skills of the Reaper, despite him not having access to an avatar anymore since their last battle in Ultima Thule. As their abilities complement each other in battle, they are now the ultimate battle couple. 🖤

[starrysnowdrop]

FFXIVWrite 2024 #1: Steer

Idiom: steer clear of; to stay away from purposely; avoid.

During the events of patch 4.3, quest “Under the Moonlight”; Hali tries to convince Yume to take a step back from participating in the investigation of Zenos’ death and potential resurrection.

“Yume, can I talk to you about something?”

The auri samurai glanced down at her pink-haired lalafellin companion and nodded. “Alright, what’s the matter?”

“Well, you see…” Hali scrunched up her face, trying to figure out how to say what she wanted to say. She folded her arms and continued.

“Look, Alisaie and I, well we are worried about you, and we thought that perhaps you might need to take a step back and let us deal with the… umm… problem at hand.”

Yume shrugged her shoulders, not following Hali’s train of thought. “What? Why would I need a break? I’m fine.”

“Yume… you have had to deal with a lot lately—”

“So have we all! Honestly I was thinking that Alisaie might need to take some time for herself with Alphinaud embarking on a diplomatic mission to Garlemald and all. She is the one that needs to relax for a while. But I’m alright.”

The lalafellin astrologian shook her head and looked up at Yume with a concerned expression. “While I agree about Alisaie, I still think you need to rest too, you know?”

Yume was growing tired of Hali dancing around the issue, or was it the person in question. She raised her voice as she replied, “Just say it already! It’s because of Zenos, isn’t it?” She sighed and placed her hands on her hips. “You don’t understand. He is alive, and I need to know if it’s really him, or if an ascian has claimed his body!”

“Yume, listen to me! I think you need to steer clear of all this right now, especially when we tell Lyse the truth. She’s not going to be happy with hearing that Zenos lives, in any capacity whatsoever. Do you really want to be there to witness her reaction?”

Hali briefly closed her eyes as she began to recall the events of the past few days spent in Doma.

“You just had to deal with Asahi threatening you over his obsession with Zenos, and you are still clearly shaken up by the echo vision we saw earlier, so perhaps you should go back to the Rising Stones to relax, meditate, and clear your head. I will keep you updated on everything, I promise.”

Yume shook her head, with slight irritation in her voice as she wanted to put this whole needless conversation to rest. “…No, Hali. I need to see this through for myself, and that’s final. Lyse will just have to be a good little leader and learn how to tolerate me being in her presence.”

This time it was Hali’s turn to sigh. Yume and Lyse were not on good terms with each other anymore, not after they have had several fights over Yume’s fixation on Garlemald’s crown prince. Though Yume never wavered in her duty and fought Zenos alongside her and their friends, Lyse couldn’t stand how much Yume seemed to talk about Zenos, and how the samurai picked up and read every tome she could that held information on him. To not only Lyse’s eyes, but everyone else’s, Yume seemed to be growing obsessed with him, and she always seems to talk about him as if he were a long-lost lover…

Hali wondered for a moment if that was how she looked like when she recalled her days in Ishgard with Aymeric, but she quickly pushed those thoughts from her mind and shrugged. There might be another dramatic argument in the near future between Yume and Lyse, but it couldn’t be avoided if Yume insists on going to Rhalgr’s Reach with her.

“Alrighty, suit yourself.”

Yume’s Blog: @firelightmuse

[firelightmuse]

Yume x Zenos

How It Started

How It’s Going

Hey... hey anyone with wolships or other FFXIV ships (since I know not everyone's characters are WoL).

Show me your "How it started // How it's going" can be gpose, art, writing. I just want to know about your ffxiv ships. Can be OCxOC, OCxNPC, Polyships, multiships, or anything else I didn't account for.

[rennsdeaddoves]

Fanfic Summary List

ight here we go, the colour of the name is an indecation of the rating, if you need a refresher go to my pinned post.

all of the summaries are under the cut (cause this post got way long) enjoy going through them and seeing what my muddle singular cell'd brain has come up with!

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Let Me Give the Wold to You - Dragon Ball Super

Beerus x adopted dauhter oc (we love a good found family)

Summary; was it a blessing or a curse that led all of them to this? Chance or fate that made Zeno decree all destroyers should have children of their own after Goku took Goten to them. Because whether or not Beerus and Whis know it, they saved her life. 

Nishiyama Yume was one push away from death, she was balancing on that fine line waiting for the gust to blow her over, for her to rot six feet under. But it didn’t happen… she was taken away before it could, saved before the drugs could shut her down permanently. Shown compassion and nurtured as she should have been before the despair got to her. 

And now she brings life to the table, she’ll fight for what she has, or at the very least die trying but Beerus won’t let that happen. He’s fought too hard for her to leave him now, he doesn’t want this all to be a waste of time… or is it more than that?

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Queen Consort - Dragon Ball Z/Super

Freiza x oc that turns into vegeta x oc

oc is the daughter of King Cold's favourite concubine and allows her to have a child with a Sayian man of his choosing to make the perfect Concubine for his son. Freiza initially wants nothing to do with her but keeps her around cause his father asked then he realizes that maybe she is good for her intended purpose and a very toxic romance with Freiza starts. it isn't until the birth of their son Kuriza that she realizes something is very wrong when Freiza won't even let her see the child. she runs, and crashes on earth where she is found by Vegeta. things progress from there.

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This Never Ending Nightmare we must Call Life - Little Nightmares

Thin man X oc

Summary; the Maw was where they lived and where they were supposed to die. But fate had another idea and kept one alive. Those on the Maw named her Key as they thought she was the key to saving them all from this twisted world. However, a strange signal pulses in her head and she is drawn to the land, heading for a place with towering buildings and pale skies;

Key makes a journey that should have never been made in the first place. 

if you like gaslighting this is the fic for you.

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We Say When We've Run Out of Time - The Incredibles

Syndrom (Buddy Pine) X OC

no summary for it yet, but we have Amnisa, strangers - friends - lovers, and all that good stuff (including child experimentation!)

basically oc is a goverment project aiming at bringing back supers but she manages to escape only to lose her memory and end up washed up on Syndrom's island where he then takes her in.

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Rising to Our Fate - Princess Mononoke

Ashitaka x oc (yes I age him up)

Summary; working on it

basically there is a second Emishi settlement, one that has a princess. this princess is paired with Ashitaka and when nago comes she banishes herself with her husband  

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Let Me Go - It (2017)

Pennywise x OC

don't got a summary for this one but basically, back when Derry was first a settlement a group of boys tried to kill it but failed. one of the boys sisters came into its abode to check for her brother but instead all she found was thing fading ball of light.

turns out the dead lights split and reproduced after this latest feast but some were incredibly weak and regurgitated from the form. this dying dead light found this girl and made her its host.

now hundred of years later she returns to Derry Main to see what is calling to her.

(basically i just summoned all my monster fucker energy to put into this one cause we got some fucked up smut in this)

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Lies on your Tongue, Poison in My Blood - Halloween

Micheal Myers x OC

Summary; they were friends before the incident, then she forgot somehow, forgot him, them, their promise, Haddonfield, everything. But somehow she turns up in the Sanitarium, with him… 

He would remind her, whether she wanted to remember or not, he would make her remember, she needed to. So Micheal took her, and now they're both on the run and wanted.   

Micheal has a childhood friend who ends up at smiths grove too just without her memory and he takes her away. just some cute stalker / yandere behaviour here!

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Wait No Longer - Cult of the Lamb

Narinder (the one who waits) x oc

no summary, however! oc is a child of the sky (this will make sense when i explain later) she falls into Narinders domain and he finds that she actually can't die, she is untouchable by him. so he keeps her around and that about as far as i got! i just no that cute shit happens in this!!

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Determination of the Forsaken - Kung Fu Panda

Tai Lung x OC

oc is a celestial dragon of the zodiac, she falls from the heavens and loses her divine memory. Oogway finds her takes her in and teaches her.

even though this is a pretty old story (as in its been in the works for a while) that about all i got on it (srry)

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Queen's Reign - Solo Leveling

Baek Yoon-Ho x OC

Summary; Getting an E-ranking is sometimes called a blessing in disguise. Sure you won't make as much money or really be noticed but you still have the options that other hunters do. Go Ha-rin knows these options all too well and has decided to take a quiet office position at the White Tigers guild taking on the occasional E or D-rank dungeons with her closest friend Sung Jin-Woo. 

When Ha-rin finally meets the guild master by accident she realizes that it was her old high school crush, suddenly a lot of feelings are returning and she sets her sights on finally getting that date she promised herself all those years ago. 

Though, while she is pursuing love, something continues to brew in both the shadows and the light. Will Ha-rin be ready for what is coming? Can she handle the power required? 

guys solo leveling is amazing go and read it, especially for the beefy tiger man pls

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And No One Saw it Coming - Puss in boots the last wish

Death x Oc

Summary; Kitty and Perrito get to Puss while he is still stuck in the cave of souls, while death still hunts him down like a cat would a mouse, or a wolf would a cat. 

In the ensuing scuffle, the three find out that even Death can have a wish, when Goldie and Jack are dealt with, they actively seek Death out and ask if they can somehow help grant his wish. If they can help find who he longs to see again. 

Of course, Lobo scoffs at them. He’s a very busy wolf and doesn’t have the time for this, but something in the back of his mind won't stop gnawing at him and eventually, he caves, Accepting the tabi’s offer for help. 

i add some stuff, give lobo some siblings and a lot of family drama, and puss is still puss.

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Memories of Gold - genshin impact

this one is actually already up on my a03 so if your interested check it out here

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There are no Strings on Me - Genshin Impact

Scaramouch x Oc

Summary; puppets are controlled by strings attached to their joints. Everything about them is under the control of the puppet master. 

But what happens when the one discarded by their creator, meets the one that was set free with no knowledge of the world? 

Is his need to protect her an obligation or a cry for something he wishes he had when he was let go, someone that would have guided him through the world and taught him what needed to be taught? 

its been so long since i actually worked on this one, all i remember was that it was angsty as FUCK

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Frost Born - Genshin Impact

Il Dottore x OC

Summary; Life is maddening. So Il Dottore decided he’d be one step ahead of life by being even more unpredictable, it’s worked so far. Or so he likes to think it has anyway. 

But how long can he keep up before he breaks into pieces?   

Life is punishing. So Aleksandra decided that she would keep her head down and bend to anyone so she didn’t get hurt any more than she had to. Though it never worked. 

How long could she keep living like a rat?  

so i started writing this when all i had to go off of was webttore, so its been through some workshoping ever since Sumeru.

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Drown Me in that Deep Abyss - Black Panther / Wakanda Forever

Namore x OC

another with no summary, but oc is a mutant, her mutation is that when her body is immersed in water she becomes a siren and she needs to feed on blood to sustain herself properly. her mother was a wakandan spy but quit cause of her father so she goes to her mother's home in an exchange program being done at Professor X school and gets taken in by the royal family.

[raichubork]

List of RPG Maker games and such I've played (up to change)

Highly recommended

Cell of Empireo

Hello Charlotte (and all other etherane games)

OFF

Flesh, Blood, & Concrete

Witch's Heart

Yume Nikki and its fangames (Muma|Rope, .flow, Someday, Mikan Muzou, Yume Tsushin, Broken Bottles, Braingirl, Dream vs Dream)

Very good

ZENO Remake (seriously the writing in this game is insane but the topics it approaches are too grotesque to recommend to everyone)

Turtle Head: Unmasked

racheldrawsthis games: Elevator Hitch, Married in Red, Dead Plate

SHTDN

Therapy With Dr. Albert Krueger

Ib

Emerald Wasp (I suggest watching a no-commentary playthrough because my game kept crashing)

Good and Alright Games

gokuto jihen (Underworld Capital Incident)

Paletta

Palette

Hello? Hell...O?

The Witch's House

b*x, colorful.

Didn't particularly like

Mad Father

flatline

Dudley and the Mysterious Tower

Idk if I can recommend these to anyone, sane or otherwise

Okegom Games: Mogeko Castle, The Gray Garden, WatGBS (which was mid), Ice Scream

Planning to play

Agoraphobia, Ao Oni, Black Souls, Club Suicide, Deep Sea Girl, End Roll, Escaped Chasm, Graveyard Keeper, Halope, Hansel, Ionoclasts, Irisu Syndrome, It gets so lonely in here, Mamiya, Mayoihiga, Misao, Menherafflesia, Mermaid Swamp, Nightmare of the Snow, Painted Heart, Path to Nowhere, Pokémon Conquest, Refined Self, Space Funeral

OFF fangames: CONTINUE, STOP, RISE

YNFGs: Fleshchild, Me, LCDDEM, Yume Graffiti

Dropped

Fausts Alptraum

Vincent the Secret of Myers

OMORI

[starrysnowdrop]

So I’ll go through all three of my ships briefly, starting with Hali, then Yume, and then Sohna!

Hali x Aymeric

For me, I’ve loved Aymeric ever since his first appearance in 2.4 with his meeting with Alphinaud, and Hali has been smitten with him since she first saw him as well, at the same time, but my reasons and Hali’s reasons are very different.

At first, I thought Aymeric had major hidden antagonist vibes, like he was going to betray us and he was going to be the big bad of HW, but instead I was completely wrong, and he ended up being the exact opposite of what I had expected, and I ended up loving him even more for it.

Hali always thought the best of Aymeric, and she wanted to climb him like a tree ever since she first saw him, but the “Oh” moment for her was not until the assassination attempt on Aymeric’s life in 3.1 that Hali realized that her feelings were way deeper than just friendship. A love confession wouldn’t come until 6.0 though! 🤦‍♀️

Yume x Zenos

((Yume’s side blog: @firelightmuse))

Both Yume’s and my feelings for Zenos have been, well, complicated to say the least. I’ve always thought he was hot as hell, and next to Aymeric, he’s definitely the hottest man in game for me. But I wouldn’t even think of shipping him with Yume until this year, thanks in part to a dream I had, and also a HUGE boost from @meepsthemiqo (TYSM my friend!!).

For Yume, she became obsessed with him after he had defeated her in battle twice, and spared her life twice, which drew her to Zenos, as she had never been defeated before in a one on one battle. Even though she knew he was her enemy, her feelings for him only grew over the years, and her “Oh” moment comes after their battle in Ultima Thule, in which she realized that she couldn’t let him die, and she saved his life instead.

Sohna x Alphinaud

((I don’t have any banners made for Sohna or for the ship banner yet, so have an Alphi gif instead!))

So, this is my newest ship, and many of you probably never knew this, but Alphinaud has always been my favorite Scion, and he’s overall one of my favorite FFXIV characters period. Talk about that character growth! He’s such a great character, and I even thought of shipping Yume with Alphi a LONG time ago, but I aged Yume up to 24 at the beginning of ARR, and they had a good friendship instead. I have never tried to write a ship with Alphi until now, but I have been fond of him since his character growth in HW.

For Sohna, she’s smitten from the beginning, but she has her “Oh” moment and falls for Alphi hard when he saves her life in the first attack on Tuliyollal. That’s all that I have for them for now, but I’ll be working on Sohna’s development in the meantime.

((Thank you for sending this to me @mimble-sparklepudding!!))

fellow wol x npc shippers- If applicable, what was the "oh" moment for you and your oc falling for their love interest? Was yours seperate from your WoL's?

[firelightmuse]

“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” ~ Emily Brontë

Yume x Zenos

[firelightmuse]

Save Him

Yume x Zenos

Immediately following the final battle with Zenos at the end of 6.0; After granting Zenos the battle he had been pining for ever since he returned from the dead, Yume makes a life altering decision in a brief moment of desperation.

1,456 Words

Featuring @traveler-of-light’s Astrid and Arslan

Content/Trigger Warnings: Brief Descriptions of Attempted Ritualistic Suicide/Seppuku and Depictions of Character Death

This is my first time ever writing for Yume x Zenos, so I hope you all enjoy!! A HUGE shout out to all who have been so encouraging and supportive of me while I navigate this new ship, especially @meepsthemiqo!! Thank you so much!!

As the two combatants channeled as much aether into their punches as they could, Yume Aino, Warrior of Light, got the upper hand and delt the disgraced Garlean prince a devastating blow. The enshrouded Zenos viator Galvus flew backwards, flipped over and landed face first onto the ground.

Though she could hardly catch her breath, and feeling an overwhelming amount of pain in her chest and abdomen, likely due to cracked ribs and internal bleeding, she quickly surmised, Yume pushed the pain from her conscious mind as much as she could as she slowly dragged her broken form closer to her opponent.

Zenos managed to get up onto his knees and reached out his hand to her, but too much of his life force had been spent and he instead dropped back to ground, this time facing the firmament. A moment later, Zenos’ enshrouded form dissipated from the majority of his body, but his left arm was still twisted with bright red flesh, reminiscent of a voidsent.

The samurai stood close enough to Zenos’ fallen form that she could see him open his eyes as he deeply sighed, “That I should lose again...”

With a chuckle, he closed his eyes before he dejectedly said, “How disappointing.”

Yume shook her head and questioned, “Did you though? Heh… I do not feel victorious.”

“Is that so?”

Before she could say anything more, Yume collapsed under her own weight, falling down right next to Zenos, her hand mere ilms away from his.

She looked over at him, and though her vision had begun to slightly blur, she saw his sky blue eyes aimed upward towards the heavens, yet by the look on his face, she knew his mind was drifting, to where she knew naught.

Zenos must’ve sensed that her focus was upon him, as he began to speak his thoughts aloud.

“Never have I understood those around me. Understood their obsessions.” He paused a moment, the memories of his life floating in and out of consciousness as he continued, “Besieged by their banality, the world was a mire of tedium and trivialities.”

Yume could swear that his eyes shifted to her face briefly, yet the pain was nearly unbearable and it was a struggle to keep listening, let alone to see properly.

The Garlean’s deep, rough voice reached her horns once more; this time she could hear a hint of joy in his tone. “But in these fleeting moments, there is...a spark. Blinding, brilliant... Gone...too soon...”

She let out a small sigh. “Yes… I understand.”

Yume had enough visual clarity to see Zenos turn towards her, trying to catch his breath as blood ran out of his mouth and trickled down his face.

“What of you, Yume, my mirror? Born into this world, bestowed name, bid to seek out strife and adventure...”

Yume turned towards Zenos as much as she could, though it was increasingly difficult to keep her eyes open. As she shut her eyes, the pain that racked her whole body started to slowly fade away, and in turn, her mind’s eye began to wander.

“Was this life a gift...or a burden?”

Her mind wandered to her childhood in Hingashi, images began to rise to her conscious mind and soon fall away to the next; Mt. Aino rising up to the sky, its peak surrounded by clouds, flags flying of the Aino clan’s sigil, the seemingly endless multitudes of people bowing to her father, the duels that always ended with her victory yet with no worthy husband, her slicing her belly open and her father coming to stop her, and her leaving her homeland behind for lands unknown.

“Did you find...fulfillment?” Zenos asked as Yume’s mind continued to wander through the memories of her life.

Images floated to the surface of her new life in Eorzea; her arrival in Limsa Lominsa, first adventuring in Ul’dah, fighting Ifrit, joining the Scions, meeting all of whom she would now consider her found family, going on to fight so many primals, so many Garleans, then the dragons, and then the sin eaters, and finally the blasphemies and then the Endsinger. One victory after another, always more victories, and yet, she still felt the same emptiness as before.

“Did I? Did I… really?” Yume wondered aloud, as her mind flashed to images not of memories of real events as before, but of the dreams that haunted her off and on again for years. Dreams of adventure in far off places she had never experienced before, always with a steadfast companion by her side through all the battles and hardships to come, but also celebrating moments of pure joy and true happiness; she sees the scene of an eternal bonding, realizing that it was in fact her own. Yume gleaming in a white dress, joined hand in hand with the love of her life, sealing their bond with a kiss full of passion and love. Yet, she couldn’t not see her lover’s face. Always was her lover’s face shrouded in shadow. She knew that these must be visions of a future not yet written, and now may never come to pass.

Yume knew in her heart that she was a samurai, and there was no greater honor than to die an honorable death in battle. That was a comforting thought. And yet… it was not enough. She asked herself the same question that Zenos had just asked. Right now, in what could well be her final moments in this life, was she fulfilled? Did she find what she had been looking for in all these years of searching?

With a single tear falling from her eye, Yume answered her beaten opponent’s poignant question, “No… Not yet… There is so much left to experience…”

As the words passed her lips, she heard only a single sound from the man laying next to her.

“I...”

What followed was nothing but silence and darkness, as her vision was failing her, and she could not see nor hear him anymore. Was he still there? Or was it too late?

“Z-Zenos…?” Yume spoke his name aloud as she lifted her hand, reaching out for his. She soon found it, but tears instantly began to fall from her eyes as his skin felt cold in hers.

“No… Do not… leave me…alone…”

Yume gripped his cold hand with the last remains of her energy. If she was to die, then she wanted to die with him, the only man who would ever be worthy of her in her family’s eyes. The only person who could ever understand her, who saw all of her, her beauty and her ugliness, her strengths and her weaknesses, her determination and her doubts. Everyone else only saw the light, but he saw the darkness that she hid deep inside, and he was unafraid. In fact, he welcomed it, and drew it out of her, and made her feel unashamed of herself for the first time in her life.

No. Zenos was the only one that she deemed worthy. If she was to die, then she will die having made her own choice. And she chooses him. Her enemy… her love….

As she felt her consciousness slipping away from her, Yume heard a faint clanging of metal, and then as she still held Zenos’ hand, she felt them both being whisked away, and then arrive in another place.

Yume felt nothing, and she could see nothing, but the very faintest of sounds reached her horns.

“Oh… Yume!”

Was that… Astrid’s voice? Was she back in the ship? Was she in the Ragnarok with the others?

“Yume! And… Zenos?!”

That could only be the exclamations of Arslan, confirming that she had in fact been teleported back to the ship, and Zenos had arrived with her, though if he was alive or dead, Yume did not know.

“Can you hear... Say...” Estinien’s voice called out, though it was incredibly difficult to make sense of what he had said.

Yume heard more voices, Urianger, Y’shtola, Alphinaud and Alisaie, but she couldn’t seem to understand what they were saying at all.

With the last of her strength, Yume opened her eyes enough to see her vision blurred so badly that she couldn’t make out any faces, but she finally spotted her target: a shock of pink entered her sight, and she knew she had found the only person who had a chance of saving him. If anyone could do it, it’d be her.

“H-Hali…” Yume spoke with the last of her breath, “Save… him… p-please…”

As the words left her lips, Yume closed her eyes and let the darkness pass over her. Life or death, she knew not what awaited her. It was out of her hands now.

[firelightmuse]

Auraugust 2024 ~ #1: New Dawn ☀️

Yume and Zenos arrive in Tuliyollal, where they both hope to make a new start in their lives, and this time they will be together.

[firelightmuse]

Yume’s First Defeat

This moment, when Yume fights Zenos in the attack on Rhalgr’s Reach, Zenos easily overpowers her and Yume gets her first taste of defeat. For the first time in her life, she dueled an opponent and thoroughly lost.

This is an incredibly important moment in her life, as not only was it the first time she had to experience her ego getting bruised, but she also finally met the only person who her father would deem as worthy of marrying his daughter.

Yume cannot shake the feeling of knowing that if she were still her father’s heir and she was still destined to become daimyo, her father would have seen Zenos as the only one worthy to be Yume’s husband. In another time, in another life, she would have been betrothed to Zenos yae Galvus.

In turn, Yume becomes obsessed with wanting to fight Zenos again, for reasons that even she herself doesn’t quite understand.

[starrysnowdrop]

New Side Blog -> @firelightmuse

I have been inspired to reintroduce my first WoL Yume Aino, and out of both a desire for organization and in case anyone doesn’t want to follow Yume’s story out of not wanting to see her ship partner, Zenos, I made a new side blog with my previous blog name!

Yes, you heard me correctly. I got inspired to ship Yume with Zenos, and I am not only still shocked at myself but I’m super excited to explore this ship, as I am now convinced that Zenos is the perfect fit for Yume.

If you’re interested, please go follow my new side blog!

Thank you so much in advance!

[starrysnowdrop]

FFXIVWrite 2024 #20: Duel

Noun: a prearranged combat between two persons, fought with deadly weapons according to an accepted code of procedure, especially to settle a private quarrel.

Immediately following the events of 6.0; Zenos finds himself strangely alive, and questioning his own motives and beliefs.

Just as he found himself going back to the Royal Menagerie in the Palace of Ala Mhigo, Zenos viator Galvus stood in the middle of the Scholar’s Harbor in Old Sharlayan, holding the same envelope stamped with the seal of the Aino Clan in his hands, as he asked himself the same questions as he had before.

In that transcendent moment, what was it that I sought in you?

And what was it that you sought in me?

By the time that he had reached the edge of the universe, in the form of the dragon once more, Zenos thought that all he had wanted, and all that he could ever give in turn, was one final duel, one final battle that would shake the very heavens, that would shine brighter than any of the stars above. Having reclaimed his moment of pure bliss, he would be content to leave this world behind, and he would fade from history, leaving his one true friend to find fulfillment in the rest of her life as the savior of the star.

And yet, here he stood, hale and whole, with even more questions than answers, as his friend was in a deep coma, laying at the precipice of life and death.

Why? Why would she save him? Why would she sacrifice her own life to bring him to safety?

It didn’t make any sense to him. If all she wanted was one more glorious battle with him, then there was no reason why he was alive despite his defeat.

If all he had wanted was to reclaim his moment, then why did he still hold on to the piece of paper that lost its meaning so many years ago, and yet his heart soared when he discovered the truth of the words found within.

He needed answers. And in order to find any, she needed to wake up. She needed to survive. To live.

Yume’s Blog: @firelightmuse

[firelightmuse]

Random Yume x Zenos Headcanons

Been thinking about Yume’s ancient and I know we don’t have an answer for Zenos and if he is a reincarnated ancient or not (as far as I’m aware they have never answered that particular question either way). Even if canonically he isn’t, I still like the idea that he is one. So my thoughts are that I’d make Zenos’s ancient self be Ares (Greek god of war) and Yume’s ancient self be Nemesis (Greek goddess of retribution). I think that those would fit each of them the best. Any other info about their ancients have yet to be determined. So yeah. 👍

[firelightmuse]

Character Profile 🔥🌸

Yume Aino

Since it is VERY long, it is under a cut. If you do read all of this, thank you so much for taking the time out to do so!!! Enjoy! 🥰

Updated as of Dawntrail Patch 7.1, 12/06/2024

BASICS//

Name: Yume Aino

Name Pronounciation: Yoo-may Eye-know

Name Meaning: Yume = “Dream”, Aino = “Of Love”, both of Japanese origin. In her lore, "Aino" is the name of the now dormant volcanic mountain that Aino Castle is built upon, and the clan itself took its name from the volcano. Theoretically, Yume was named as such because she was to be the "Dream of the Aino Clan".

Nicknames: “Little Bird”, is a nickname from her childhood but is adopted by Zenos as a pet name for her; “My Fire”, “My Light”, and “Mea Amata”, are all other pet names Zenos has for Yume (“mea amata” is Latin for the feminine form of “my beloved”, and is a reference to the Garlean native language).

Unsundered Name: Nemesis (Not Azem)

Titles: Warrior of Light, Warrior of Darkness, Hydaelyn’s Chosen, Scion of the Seventh Dawn, Champion of Eorzea, Eikon Slayer, Savior of Ishgard, Liberator of Doma and Ala Mhigo, Wandering Flame, Ronin of Eorzea, Former Heir of Lord Masanori Aino

Age: 24 in ARR, 31 as of Post-6.0

Nameday: 13th Sun of the 3rd Astral Moon (May 13th)

Gender: Female, Cis

Race: Au Ra

Tribe: Raen

Nationality: Hingan

Languages: Modern Hingan, Most Far Eastern Dialects, Old Auri Tongue, and Eorzean Common Tongue

Profession: Former samurai and heir apparent of the Aino Clan; Currently a ronin, adventurer, and Scion of the Seventh Dawn

Education Level: Home schooled by private tutors in Hingashi, and is particularly knowledgeable in history, cultures, and languages.

BLOODLINES//

Father: Lord Masanori Aino (48 in ARR)

Mother: Lady Michiko Aino (45 in ARR)

Siblings: 2 younger brothers, Daichi and Kentaro (Ages 8 and 6 in ARR); Numerous half-siblings born of her father and his concubines

Extended Family: Large extended family, but her best friend is her first cousin Rei Tokugawa (25 in ARR)

In-Laws: All in-laws deceased

Children: None, and cannot have any biological children due to her injuries from attempted Seppuku

Pet: An amaro named Nightmare who also serves as Yume’s mount; the amaro was named after Yume’s black horse, also named Nightmare, that Yume was forced to leave behind after she was banished by her father.

ROMANCE & SEXUALITY//

Sexual Orientation: Demisexual

Romantic Orientation: Demiromantic

Significant Other: Zenos Galvus, in a long-term monogamous relationship as of Post-6.0; Will marry at some time in the future

Past Relationships: Briefly dated G’raha Tia during the events of the investigation of the Crystal Tower; Yume’s ancient self as Nemesis was eternally bonded with Ares, Zenos’ ancient self

RESIDENCE//

Place of Birth: Born in Aino Castle, in Lord Masanori Aino's territory, located not too far outside of Kugane, Hingashi

Current Residence: Small house in Shirogane (Located in game at Rafflesia, Shirogane, Ward 17, Plot 33.)

TALENTS AND SKILLS//

Canon Battle Jobs: Samurai (Trained since early childhood; canonically referred to as a Ronin; some of Yume’s abilities are unique and distinctive from the in game job) and Black Mage (Self-taught; some abilities are unique and distinct from the canonical in-game job)

Abilities: Kenjutsu, Martial Arts, Marksmanship, Thaumaturgy, Black Magic, Writing Poetry, Dancing, and Polyglot

Bad At: Singing, All forms of healing magic, Household chores, Public Speaking, Confiding in others when stressed, and Controlling her anger.

APPEARANCE//

Hair: Naturally jet black in color with straight bangs and pulled back into a high ponytail most of the time, and medium-long length.

Eyes: Large, wide set eyes; Royal Blue in color with lighter blue limbal rings surrounding the iris.

Face: Heart-shaped, with ivory colored scales on cheeks and bridge of her long, thin nose.

Lips: Full, plump lips

Complexion: Fair, can mildly tan with extended sun exposure

Blemishes: None

Scars: Though she has many small scars accumulated over the years, the most prominent one is a large, very deep scar from the right side of her abdomen to her belly button that she is quite ashamed of for many years; she only shows the scar when necessary unless she is alone with Zenos.

Tattoos: One large tattoo of a Phoenix spreading its wings that covers her entire back in all red ink.

Height: 5 fulms 2 ilms (Tallest Height for female Au Ra)

Weight: 120 ponze

Build: Petite and athletic but curvy with a large chest.

Features (Au Ra): Horns are slightly curled and sloping backwards away from her face; tail is long and smooth with a few small spikes near the base. Scales adorn her body and face with a small speckling of scales above the bridge of her nose.

Usual Hairstyles: Usually pulled up into a high ponytail for battle, but she tends to also pull up her hair into a side ponytail with braids while not fighting, and recently she has worn her hair loose.

Usual Face Look: Usually wears reddish-pink eyeshadow, black eyeshadow and eyeliner, and mauve colored lipstick.

Usual Clothing: Black leather, black colored robes, black or dark colored kimonos, black dresses, and some dark red and dark purple accessories. Basically, Yume asks, “Does this come in black?”

Face and Voice Claim: Chinese actress Fan Bing Bing for both face and voice claim.

PERSONALITY//

Introverted / Extroverted / Ambiverted (bold what applies)

Positive Traits: Friendly, polite, respectful, reserved, courageous, brave, kind, compassionate, empathetic, open minded, pragmatic, intuitive, loyal, faithful.

Most Positive Trait: Honorable to a fault. Yume follows the Honor Code of the Samurai and will not fight an unarmed opponent, tries her best to not bring harm to the innocent, and she is extremely loyal to those she has sworn to serve. Will give her life in an heartbeat if she deems it to be an honorable death and a worthy sacrifice for a good cause.

Negative Traits: Temperamental, prideful, aggressive, cynical, jealous, possessive, distant, insecure, reckless.

Most Negative Trait: Besides falling in love with Zenos? Yume has a problem with anger management. When she doesn’t keep her anger in check, she gets violent, and will kill an enemy with no hesitation. She has killed many people this way in her past in Hingashi, including killing those that she felt had dishonored her in some way.

Fears: Living a life without making her own choices, having regrets, and the death of her loved ones, though not afraid of dying herself.

Aspirations: To live a life that she has chosen for herself and not forced upon her by someone else, to help others and use her powers for good, and to see the entire world for herself.

Traumas: For past traumas before ARR, you can read Yume’s history below. Most of the events of ShB and EW were really traumatic for her, especially almost dying after the battle with Zenos at the end of 6.0.

Hobbies: Writing poetry, travelling, learning about other cultures, learning history, reading, and shopping.

Vices: Eating too much junk food, bottling up emotions until she explodes, shutting out others when feeling depressed, feeling insecure about herself outside of being a Warrior of Light.

Faith: Believes in the concept of Karma and that everything happens for a reason, but does not believe in the Kami or any other kind of god, at least ones that aren't primals anyway.

Turn Ons: Loyalty, Confidence, Bravery, Integrity, Intelligence, unique eyes, beautiful smile, muscular physique, and a large chest.

Turn Offs: Cowardice, Dishonesty, Disloyalty, Deceitfulness, Superficiality, Greed

Temperament: Phlegmatic/Choleric

MBTI: INFP-A

Soul Type: The Warrior

Tropes: The Chosen Many, Lady of War, Aloof Dark-haired Girl, Dark and Troubled Past, Samurai, Ronin, Warrior Poet, Honor Before Reason, Seppuku, Black Mage, Lady of Black Magic

Songs: “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones (This one is also her OC tag), “Weight of the World” from Nier Automata, “Sayuri’s Theme” from Memoirs of a Geisha, and “Wandering Flame” from FFX

Character Inspirations: Chiyo/Sayuri from Memoirs of a Geisha, Mariko from James Clavell’s Shogun, Auron from FFX, Tifa Lockhart from FFVII, Rei Hino/Sailor Mars from Sailor Moon, Trinity from The Matrix, Daenerys Targaryen from A Song of Ice and Fire, and Jasmine from Disney’s Aladdin

FAVORITES//

Book: Chūshingura, translated as The Treasury of Loyal Retainers, commonly known as The 47 Ronin.

Deity: Nald’thal the Traders

Holidays: Heavensturn and Moonfire Faire

Month: 3rd Astral Moon (May)

Weather: A warm, sunny day with a light breeze and fair to clear skies.

Time of Day: Dawn

Places: Kugane, Eastern Thanalan, Costa del Sol, The Royal Menagerie in the palace in Ala Mhigo, Rak’tika Greatwood, Thavnair, Ultima Thule, and Yak T’el

Sounds: The wind, chimes, Taiko drumming, birds chirping, and crackling wood of a campfire or a fireplace.

Scents: Cherry blossoms, tea brewing, incense, and candles burning.

Tastes: Anything spicy, strawberries and cream, sushi, curry, ramen, matcha green tea, coffee, chocolate.

Feels: Leather, flower petals, Hingan silk, and a warm fireplace or campfire.

Number: 2

Colors: Jet Black, Dalamud Red, Wine Red, and Gloom Purple

SYMBOLISM//

Elements: Fire, Light, and Darkness

Gemstones: Amber and Sunstone

Animal: Birds of all kind

Mythological Creature: Phoenixes

Flowers: Cherry blossoms and sunflowers

Seasons: Late Spring and Early Summer

Land, Sea, or Sky: Sky

Astronomical Object: The Sun

HISTORY//

History (Pre-ARR): ((Content/Trigger Warnings Ahead!! Ritualistic Suicide/Seppuku, Attempted Suicide, Mental and Emotional Abuse, Slight Depictions of Self-Harm, and Discussion of Potential Incestual Marriage; Feel free to skip over this section to avoid!))

Yume was born the eldest daughter of a Daimyo (a feudal lord who ruled over a territory in Hingashi), Lord Masanori Aino, and she was his heir apparent. Yume was raised from birth to become the ideal samurai, who would be able to beat any opponent in battle, and to one day succeed her father as daimyo. She excelled in all her studies and was driven to be the best on the battlefield, yet she always felt like something was missing from her life.

As she got older, she travelled often to Kugane, the famed port city where merchants from all walks of life congregated. Yume was exposed to people with vastly different cultures and traditions from the ones she knew. She was fascinated with the travelers from distant lands that she had never seen before, especially the Eorzeans. Yet she would always do her duty and aspired to live up to her father’s expectations.

When she came of age, Lord Aino began the search for his beloved daughter’s suitor, and he had narrowed down his criteria to a very short but nigh impossible list: 1) Must be a son of a prominent noble family, 2) Must be able to sire children, and 3) He must be Yume’s equal in battle, as determined by a 1v1 duel with Yume herself. The first two criteria were the easy part. Many clans were interested in marrying their son to the daughter of Lord Aino, but Lord Aino looked for perfection, and no man around her age was good enough for his daughter. This is because every would be suitor who dueled Yume for a chance to win her hand in marriage was defeated. There were none that proved worthy of her.

Yume pleaded with her father to allow her to decide for herself who she wants to marry in her own time, but her father forbade her from ever speaking of it again, for she would shame him and bring dishonor to the family name. Soon after Yume’s 18th nameday, her father announced her betrothal to Lord Nobu Aino, her own uncle. Nobu had lost his wife due to illness, and he never fathered children with her. To ensure that Nobu will have children of his own, he wished to wed a young woman with many years ahead of her so that she can give him many children. Yume was appalled; it was commonplace centuries ago for uncles and nieces to marry in Hingashi, but it is a dying tradition that only a few remaining noble families participate in, as most of Hingashi frowns upon it in modern times.

Yume soon felt trapped in the station in life that she was born into. Her family never sought her approval of her uncle as her suitor, nor was there any room for her to decline the betrothal. Though she wished for nothing more than to become a samurai, she did not want to be forced into a marriage with her own uncle, nor to be bound to a fate that she never decided for herself. This led to the biggest decision she ever made: she confronted her father and outright refused to marry Nobu no matter what.

Her father answered her by saying that she has dishonored him and the family, but Yume responded that he has shamed her and she cannot live like this anymore. Lord Aino ended the confrontation by telling her that if she cannot live with the shame, then she must commit Seppuku, or ritualistic suicide.

The next day, the ceremony has commenced, and Yume is fully prepared to take her own life. But just as she began to slit her belly open, her father stops her and tells her that she does not have to die but must live in shame. Lord Aino’s change of heart allows Yume to survive the attempted seppuku, but the damage to her organs was so extensive that her reproductive organs had to be removed, so Yume can never have biological children. Soon after she recovers from her wounds, the family disowns her, she is stripped of all her power and titles, and she must leave her father’s lands, never to return. Yume agrees to this, and she never sees her family again.

After she has fully recovered and left her father’s lands behind, Yume is now known as a disgraced ronin, a samurai without a master. To survive, she makes a name for herself as a mercenary and assassin in Kugane for five years, and was known as the “Wandering Flame”, which derives from her clan living on a dormant volcano, the “flame” part, and “wandering” for her being a ronin.

One fateful day, after hearing the voice of Hydaelyn calling to her day after day to go to Eorzea, Yume decides that since there really is nothing left for her in Hingashi, she leaves her homeland behind for Eorzea, a land that she has always dreamed of seeing, and soon becomes a Scion of the Seventh Dawn and is known as a “Warrior of Light”.

OTHER//

Smokes: Never

Drugs: Never

Drinks: Only drinks wine and certain kinds of cocktails, and she is overall very responsible with her alcohol consumption. She will never drink on the eve of battle, nor ever indulge at times when she needs her mind to be clear and focused.

Mount Issuance: Yume was never given a chocobo, as she flat out refuses one. She does not like the chocobos because of their smell, and still usually calls them “horse birds” out of habit from growing up in Hingashi. She rode a motorcycle built by Cid for a few years (from ARR until ShB) until she is gifted an amaro named Nightmare by the Crystal Exarch.

Been Arrested: Was technically going to be arrested for Regicide during the events of the Bloody Banquet, but Yume escapes Ul’dah along with her fellow Warriors of Light.

UNSUNDERED AND SHARDS//

Unsundered: Nemesis (Not Azem)

Source: Yume Aino, Warrior of Light, 8 times rejoined

First: Renda-Rae, rejoined during ShB 5.0

Second: ???, rejoined in 3rd Calamity (Fire)

Third: ???, rejoined in 4th Calamity (Earth)

Fourth: ???, status unknown

Fifth: ???, rejoined in 1st Calamity (Wind)

Sixth: ???, rejoined in 5th Calamity (Ice)

Seventh: Tifa Lockhart, rejoined in 7th Calamity (Bahamut)

Eighth: ???, status unknown

Ninth: ???, status unknown

Tenth: Auron, rejoined in 6th Calamity (Water)

Eleventh: ???, status unknown

Twelfth: ???, rejoined in 2nd Calamity (Lightning)

Thirteenth: Rubicante, deceased as of patch 6.3

CURRENT STATUS//

As of patches 7.0-7.1, Yume will begin by wandering Tural with Zenos as they hunt down Tural Vidraal, with Yume’s newly self-trained skills as a Black Mage. Yume and Zenos did not assist in the Rite of Succession for any candidate. However, they helped in the defense of Tuliyollal both times that the city is attacked, and they fought in the battle with Sphene alongside Hali and the other WoLs. Following their victory, Yume and Zenos have remained in Tural for a while before they eventually head back to their home in Shirogane.

NOTE: Yume's story follows all of the major events of the MSQ as she is a Warrior of Light. The only major canon diversion is that in her canonverse, there are multiple Warriors of Light (notably my main OC Hali Aloke @starrysnowdrop and my friends’ OCs) and Yume’s ancient self is NOT Azem. Yume won’t always be the main focus of certain MSQ events either, as my main WoL is Hali. Feel free to ask me for any specifics in this regard.

[starrysnowdrop]

FFXIVWrite 2024 #5: Stamp

Verb (Used with object): to impress with a particular mark or device, as to indicate genuineness, approval, or ownership; to stamp a document with a seal.

Following the events of 5.3; Zenos looks around his newly deceased father Varis’s private quarters in the Imperial Palace and finds an item of particular interest.

After searching through the seemingly endless piles of monotonous tomes, paperwork, and notes strewn across the late Emperor Varis’s desk, Zenos found a small, unassuming key, which he quickly surmised would unlock the drawer of the desk.

He inserted the key and turned it, unlocking the drawer. When he slid the drawer open, there seemed to only be more tedious stacks of papers, all of which were of little concern to him. He tossed each slip of paper off to the side, and he was soon about to abandon his search for anything of import from his father’s private quarters, as nothing had stood out to him whatsoever.

After a few minutes of searching, he lifted a slip of paper from the stack to reveal an envelope, which would not have peaked his interest if not for the particular ink seal that was stamped upon the front of the envelope: it was a round seal, in the Hingan style, with an imprint of a mountain peak shrouded in mist.

“Ah, now what it is?” Zenos asked with a hint of excitement in his voice.

A small smile graced Zenos’s countenance as he ran his fingers across the seal. He had recognized the seal from a particular tome that he had read some time ago, a time before he had experienced his one shining moment of pure joy and ecstasy.

Whatever the envelope enclosed, Zenos would soon find out, but it was sure to be of immense significance to him in some way. Because why would his father have kept an envelope stamped with the official seal of the Aino Clan of Hingashi… her clan’s seal?

Yume’s Blog: @firelightmuse

[starrysnowdrop]

FFXIVWrite 2024 #3: Tempest

Noun: a violent commotion, disturbance, or tumult.

During the events of patch 4.0; Yume’s heart is in turmoil over her two losses against the crown prince of Garlemald, and she can’t stop thinking about him.

Twisting and turning, rolling over onto her side, and then onto her back again, Yume just couldn’t seem to settle herself down enough to go to sleep. The bed that was offered to her by Cirina was way more comfortable than the Auri samurai had anticipated; the pillows were extremely soft and the perfect shape for her horns, so she could lie down comfortably in any direction. Yume certainly had slept in much worse accommodations over the years, so it wasn’t anything physical that was cumbersome enough to keep her from sleep this night. Still, getting up and stepping outside for some fresh air could do her some good.

Yume sat up and didn’t bother putting any shoes on, nor a robe, as her lightweight top and shorts covered her enough so that she was decent. As she stood up and walked out of the tent that she was sharing with her comrades, the crisp, night air of the Steppe gently brushed past her face, relaxing her tense muscles enough for her to take a sigh of relief.

Yet even with the cool breeze easing the tension in her body, she didn’t feel anymore tired than before. In fact, the change in atmosphere made her mind wander… and her heart began to beat furiously in her chest as her mind settled once more on her enemy.

Zenos yae Galvus, the crown prince of Garlemald, the heir apparent to the Imperial Throne, and the legatus of the XIIth Legion…

Yume had now faced him twice in single combat, and both times she had been defeated, devastatingly so. She had always prided herself on her martial prowess, and she was especially proud that she had never been defeated in single combat before, against anyone. She had even fought several Imperial legatuses before, Gaius van Baelsar, Regula van Hydrus, and a resurrected Nael van Darnus to be exact.

So why him? Why couldn’t she beat Zenos? Why couldn’t she leave him with any injury whatsoever besides a broken katana and a snapped piece of his helm?

The more Yume thought about both encounters, the more her heart became a roiling, raging tempest that gave rise to conflicting emotions, including some feelings that she had never felt before.

Zenos was the one enemy she couldn’t defeat, which infuriated her to no end; it made her even angrier for her damaged ego, and she would love nothing more than to face him once more so she could finally be granted the victory that she deserved.

And yet… she could not stop thinking about him in other ways… in ways that her comrades would not understand.

Her mind wandered to the way his long, luscious, golden hair flowed around him as he moved; his eyes were as blue as a summer sky and yet were as ravenous as a predatory beast as he stared her down across the battlefield. In their latest encounter, he gave her a chilling smile that shook her to her core. And his voice was deep and coarse yet filled with passion as he spoke the words that haunted her every thought and yet she was still struggling to comprehend what exactly he meant by them:

Oh...how right I was to spare your life.

Hear me, hero. Endure. Survive. Live.

For the rush of blood, for the time between the seconds─live.

For the sole pleasure left to me in this empty, ephemeral world─live!

As she sighed deeply and shook her head, Yume couldn’t deny that she thought Zenos yae Galvus was simply the most beautiful man she had ever seen, and his handsome visage along with his voice had ignited a spark deep inside her that refused to burn out.

The other thought that Yume couldn’t shake off was the fact that if things were different, if Zenos wasn’t her enemy, and she was still her father’s heir, then her father and the rest of the Aino clan would’ve deemed Zenos to be the only one worthy of marrying her, due to him being the only one to defeat her in battle.

Yes, in another life, another time, Zenos could very well have been her husband.

Yume tried to shake the thought from her mind as she shook her head back and forth and slammed her eyes shut. She deemed such thoughts as ridiculous, and yet… her heart skipped a beat.

Yume’s Blog: @firelightmuse