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sirmattchap · 3 years

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The Dawning

“You h-have no idea how-w-w lucky you are, to not feel cold…” Tank bitterly spoke between chattering teeth. His blood was frozen, and his bone gripped by the icy tendrils of the encroaching blizzard. His decrepit armour provided no protection against the elements. The fireplace he crouched in front of weakly flickered with life, the ramshackle cottage he sat in was home to a constant battle between the fragile heat, and the oppressive cold from outside. An electronic snicker came from across the room from a dusty table. Atlas sat with crossed legs, scrolling through documents on his datapad, paying no mind to the chilly air blowing through the broken window next to him.

“And you have no idea how lucky you are, not having to defragment every month.” He brushed some snow that drifted in off of his robes. “Do you ever miss it while we’re on operations?” Atlas asked, not even looking up from his work.

“It?” Tank looked at him and moved his hands closer to the flame. “You mean The Dawning?” Tank shrugged and looked back, the small blaze reflecting off his sapphire eyes. “I guess… Not much is different, maybe some new snacks at the stores. I guess this year, there’s just more to think about you know?”

“Agreed. Too many changes for my liking. I prefer things to be boring and simple.” he reponded

Tank reached into a pouch on his side and pulled out a small ring and rubbed it gently in his palm. “I think I miss the people the most… it’s so isolated out here.”

Atlas looked up from his datapad and tilted his head. “What, are we not good enough company?” He snarked.

Tank laughed and admired the ring. “No offence but being around you guys kinda got stale after the first hundred years” He shot back with a sly grin.

“HURTFUL!” Hayes shouted, kicking in the door to the cottage, with him came a burst of snow and blisteringly cold winds, instantly snuffing out the fire. Tank’s head snapped to Hayes. A new inferno roared inside his eyes as he stared into Hayes’ very soul. Atlas almost burst out laughing seeing the fire go out. Hayes ignored it, willfully or accidentally, neither was sure; he just rested his rifle next to the door and walked to the fireplace

Tank clenched his jaw and hissed. “I will make sure your Ghost never finds your remains…” Hayes smiled and stopped next to him, tousling Tank’s short grey hair, which only heightened his rage. Tank fists clenched, surges of arc energy sparked off them.

“Calm down old man, no need to break your hip.” Hayes pulled out a flaming hand cannon from behind his back and held it beside Tank’s head, shooting into the fireplace. A blast of heat filled the cottage, burning a patch of hair off of Tank’s head. “There, happy?”

“Ahhh! Bastard!” Tank patted a small patch of cindering hair. “Why am I not even surprised at this point!?” Hayes shrugged and sat down across from Atlas, leaning back on the chair and propping his legs up on the table. Tank’s Ghost took shape next to his Guardian, healing the man before disappearing again. Tank immediately stood up, gliding his hand across the fresh area of hair, all while glaring at the blasé Hunter, idly smiling widely with his eyes closed.

“No need t’ thank me!”

Atlas looked away from his document, resting his head on his hand, watching the two intently. “Frankly, I’m amazed it only took a hundred years for this to get old.”

Hayes let out a small laugh, “C’mon, y’know you both love me, without me, it’d just be you two and no offence, but that’d be soooo boring.” He cracked open his eyes and stared down Atlas. “Well, more boring than usual.”

Tank sighed, “How’s it look?”

“Well Jim, it looks like it’s gonna be another sunny scorcher out here, make sure to pack your sunscreen.” Hayes sassed, relishing the stern unimpressed look on Tank’s face. Atlas never gave him disapproving looks, that’s the worst part about trying to annoy Exos as he’d say. “Well, if you must know, it’s the same as yesterday and the day before and so on. The remnant of these Devil’s are still keeping their head down and battling out the Winter. I can’t possibly imagine what that’s like.” He rolled his eyes.

Tank rubbed the bridge of his nose and took a seat between the two. “And the Tower?” Tank looked to Atlas, expecting a much better result.

“No new orders, but a bunch of new news. Rumours say The Guardian has found a way to use the Darkness? That can’t be right… can it?”

“Mercury and Mars are just... gone. At this point anything is possible,” Hayes noted.

“Anything else?”

“Hmm… Dawning wishes from Eva, Tess gives us gift cards for one free Bright Engram when we arrive at the Tower. Lynnette wishes you a happy Dawning too.” Atlas gestures to Tank, before continuing “a bunch of messages from the usual suspects asking for Hayes to come back and open the bar-”

“Ughhh I’m missing out on so much business…” He groans while dragging his hands down his face. “Especially with the Darkness being here? People need to drink away their fears.”

Tank shook his head, keeping quiet to let Atlas pick up where he left off. “Weird structures have been appearing on the Moon, in the Dreaming City and the Tangled Shore, and Osiris… Oh no…”

“What?” Tank and Hayes leaned forward, both of them trying to hide a string of fear that rang in their hearts.

“...Osiris lost his Ghost… He is safe in the Tower, but he is reclusive and quiet since he lost Sagira...” Tank and Hayes moved back shocked. A quiet note hung in the air, as the wind outside picked up and snow fell like hail. Atlas turned off his datapad and spoke hushedly. “How long did he spend in the Infinite Forest? Several decades? Spending so much time alone with the same Ghost, never saying a word to anyone else, isolated like that. Can you imagine that?”

Tank looked to Hayes, who gave him a knowing smile. “Yeah, I think I could.” Hayes chirped.

Atlas glared at Hayes, “Yeah, but you have not lost Chaplin, Tank has not lost Omar, and I have not lost Cassini. To lose them would be losing a part of your soul.”

A ghostly silence fell among them, stopping the conversation in its tracks. They all hated the silence, but no one could muster the ability to speak first. Their thoughts all consumed by the idea that the apocalypse is coming, and they could be next. Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes dragged on for hours. Or at least it felt like they did. Then, Omar appeared next to Tank, speaking softly. “I think now would be a good time buddy, save the mood and all that.”

Tank nodded “I think that’s a good idea.” Omar turned to the Warlock and Hunter, and spun his shell, materializing two engram shaped gifts, wrapped crudely with paper depicting cartoon Ghosts, engrams, and glimmer. “I know we agreed on no gifts seeing as we were going into the field, but I thought these could break up the monotony if we were out here too long. Go ahead, open them!” Tank looked uncharacteristically happy, looking almost unnatural for having, as Hayes would say, ‘resting bitch face’.

Atlas began by delicately unwrapping the present, taking care not to damage the paper, revealing a cardboard engram underneath to hold the shape. Atlas tried carefully to open it but ended up tearing the thing in half. Onto the table fell a pristine new set of robes. He admired the craftsmanship that went into the stitching, making it seamless to all but the most attentive onlookers. Fine gold lines of threads snaked around the outfit creating beautiful patterns. The few metal parts that there are, were painted with Dawning imagery. Atlas looked to Tank confused. “This is from this year’s Guardian clothing line for the Dawning, is it not? But- how did you get it? We’ve been out here for three months.”

Tank smirked, proud of himself. “I just so happen to have been chosen last year as the model that the male Dawning Titan armour is based on; can’t exactly make a set of armour without measurements. So I called in a small favour with Tess to get an advanced copy of this year's set. I think it’ll look good on you.”

Hayes snarked “Ooo more options for dress-up time? I’m sure you’re happy about that ey’ Toaster?” he mocked. Atlas looked to him, but Hayes’ couldn’t get the angry look he was hoping for. “I ever mention how creepy it is that you tin-cans don’t really have facial expressions?”

“Dozens of times…” Atlas agonized.

“Good, it’s true.”

“Thank you Tank, I love it.” Atlas gratefully accepted the gift, clutching it close to his chest.

“Alright, sentimental time over, my turn!” Hayes eagerly tore apart the wrapping paper with little regard, shredding the cardboard in the process. He stopped dead in his tracks though when he saw what his gift was. He pulled out a square crystal bottle with a large crystal stopper at the neck of the bottle. Amber liquid swirled inside as he moved it around, examining it. His hands shook a little when setting it down on the table. He carefully removed the stopper and took a sniff before capping it. “You…”

“Found a bottle of centuries-old aged whiskey. I remember you talking about how older drinks always taste the best, so I kept my eyes open anytime we left the Tower. Remember that old Bunker we found on Mars? There was a bottle tucked away in a safe, who knows how old that stuff is, but I think it’s gotta taste pretty good.” Tank's pride was oppressive, smiling wide in the enjoyment on their faces. Well. Hayes’ face.

“Wow, that’s… Thank you.” Hayes’ words oozed with sincerity. He looked around, causing his Ghost to appear. Hayes held up three fingers, then knocked on the table. His Ghost nodded and produced three small glasses on the table in front of him. “What’s a gift if you can’t share it right?” Atlas nodded, turned on his datapad, and set up a small festive song to play in their merriment. Hayes poured a small amount into each glass, making sure not to give too much, then slid them across the table to each one of them. He raised his glass and looked at both of them. “To our survival!” Hayes cheered.

Atlas tilted his head and grabbed his glass. “To our friendship!” he continued.

Tank smirked and raised his own. “To another year!” He cheered.

Their glasses clinked as they toasted, and drank the liquor. Tank and Atlas immediately spat it out in disgust, as Hayes pleasantly finished his without a care in the world. Once he finished, the three of them burst out laughing, both sides complaining and defending the drink. A blizzard raged outside, but inside burned with unbridled jubilation.

#destiny 2 #destiny the game #destiny the dawning #the dawning #destiny #destiny fanfiction #destiny trio #atlas-7 #Hayes #Tank #fanfic #destiny fanfic #short story #destiny guardians #guardians

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playertsuna · 4 years

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Silver Sky Chapter 4 [Part 2]

Chapter Four [1/3] | Chapter Four [3/3]

Fanfiction Master List | Silver Sky on AO3

A mirror verse to New Games Plus. [Still debating whether to post on ff.net.]

Summary: Instead of simply returning to the beginning with higher stats, Tsuna returns with all his powers levels and skills.

XXxxx Chapter Four xxxXX

[A random limited time quest is taking place near the train station. Would Player [Sawada Tsunayoshi] like to participate?]

Tsuna nearly walked into a wall.

A limited time quest?!

He couldn't remember the last time he’d seen one of those. Not only were they rare but the amount of experience and loot he could gain from completing one of them was far beyond the amount he earned doing normal quests.

He moved the pop-up window to the side and clicking into his inventory he scanned through the items.

If this quest was anything like the last one this quest would be difficult, perhaps even impossible to complete. He needed to be prepared for anything.

He could equip the Ember Sky Gloves again, but if he needed firepower they weren't the right gloves to use. Not only was the purity of his flame limited, but the amount of flame he could channel was limited. If he wanted to use something like the X-Burner he'd give himself second-degree burns at the very least. It was likely he was going to need something stronger.

He did carry the upgraded version of the Ember Sky gloves but...

He frowned thoughtfully.

If he remembered correctly there was some drawback to them.

He slid his finger across the screen scanning through his inventory until he finally he found what he was looking for. He clicked on the gloves and a caption appeared above them.

Ember Celica Sky Gloves {D Class}

A set of gloves designed to add additional protection to the wearer's fingers. Allows for usage of tinted Sky Flames as well as finer control over the amount of flames points used. Caution: usage of gloves for extended periods will lead to burning and loss of Health Points due to the poor quality of the flame metal used in its design. -50 HP per minute. Reduces flame cost by 30%.

Unlike Health Points, his Flame Points couldn't be restored by eating food and they took quite a lot of time to recover, but was it worth losing HP per minute? Probably not. Maybe if it was just another set of everyday thugs he was going up against he might have considered it, but this was a limited-time quest and it was going to be difficult to defeat as it was. He didn't need to make this any harder on himself.

Scanning through the rest of his gear he decided to come back to it later. For now, he should start figuring out which armor to equip to himself.

Clicking the inventory into its subsections, he further separated it into mat types. Clicking on headgear, he scanned through the equipment. There were several masks, ranging from high B-Class items to a few S-Class items, but Tsuna ignored most of them in favor of the earrings and chokes. Unlike the full masks or hoods, he could equip both a set of earrings and choker if he was careful. Considering he was going into a limited-time quest, there was likely going to be flame fighting and high-level weaponry.

Considering that it was likely to be a battle of attrition, he would need to increase his defense as much as possible. Even with his auto-healing, there was still a good chance that the enemies he would be fighting would be at powerful, perhaps high-level mafioso.

Scanning through the sets of accessories, Tsuna looked through items available to him. Because he was in the pre-chaos arc, he was limited to items below A-Rank. Additionally, the fact that this quest took place in the middle of a busy train station, there was still the danger of Vendice getting involved if the battle escalated too far. He needed to consider power as well. Tapping on the inventory filters he limited the items visible to B-Rank or lower. Studying what was left, Tsuna immediately moved through the sets eliminating anything that wasn't usable for fighting. There likely wasn't going to be intelligence or wisdom checks that he couldn't overcome at his current stats. Moving some of the items back into his normal inventory, he has only left with four sets of jewelry to choose from.

Waving his hand, the armor pieces floated in front of him, their stats screen floating side by side for comparison.

Silvergrace Earrings {B Class}

"A set of earrings said to have gained their power from a sea-dwelling race known as the Zora. Silvergrace earrings are strong, durable and easy to repair, but are difficult to find. It is said that find a pair as part of a boss reward grants a person good luck. This pair was found after defeating Man-Eater during overtime during the third playthrough. "

Grants the ability to swim faster, and breathe underwater. (While in water, +16 to all stats, and complete resistance to all water attacks.)

VIT:+ 15

DEX: +22

Noctis Royal Earrings {B++ Class}

"A set of earrings created by an ancient prince but never worn. These earrings show some slight wear and tear, as well as some repairs, though who it was done by is a mystery. As a result, this set of earrings are now unbreakable. This set of earrings was discovered in a limited-time event during the second playthrough."

Grants additional power at night as well as the Quicksilver (+25% speed in using machinery) perk. (During the nighttime, add +20 to the stats below as well as night vision.)

FP Reduction: 21%

VIT:+14

FP:+10

Exp Inc by 15%

Goron Choker of Armament {B+ Class}

"Said to have originated from a city deep in a volcanic mountain, the player accidentally created this replica during synthesis at Talbot's house in the last playthrough. The chance of creating this particular piece of armor is only one in a thousand, but after learning to craft from the Ancient and Wise Talbot, a miracle happened (and you didn't explode). This choker's durability is medium and it needs some repair."

VIT:+50

Defense is raised by 50%

Aureole Earrings { B- Class}

"Created with the remaining pieces of a B Class boss dark type monster. This artifact is rarely ever created, mostly because the requirements are not only difficult to obtain but because of its reputation for leading men to their doom. Colored a bloody red, and styled in a fashion known as Gothic, this piece is cursed."

Grants special ability Life Drain (killing an enemy restores health to the player).

Cursed item Debuff: Increased blood lust

Attack is raised by 12.5%

All stats +17

Thinking over the sets, Tsuna banished two of the sets back to his inventory and equipped the rest.

Player [Sawada Tsunayoshi] has equipped [Noctis Royal Earrings]. Two stats are raised, and experience gained is increased by fifteen percent.

Player [Sawada Tsunayoshi] has equipped [Goron Choker of Armament]. One stat is raised and defense is raised.

[NEW] [Player Sawada Tsunayoshi] has gained three new titles.

He blinked at the last one but decided to wait to view it. He still needed to equip the rest of his armor set. Going back into his inventory and changing the filters yet again, Tsuna scans the rolls of chest armor. Unlike jewelry where he had around thirty items, the sheer amount of chest and pants armor he currently owned bordered on ridiculous.

Some sets he owned for various and specific battlefields, and then he had several costumes he had for the pure trolling effect. Separating the amusing from the actual functional armor took a little more work than he would have liked, but at least it saved him time. The first thing he did was filter out any full-body outfits, most of which were for beginning players and would remove his earrings and choker. After the screen refreshed itself he manually went through the twenty or so armor sets left and tossed out anything with the costume title back into his normal inventory. From there he was left with ten items, of which he ran the filter over again canceling out anything over A-Rank. He was only left with four outfits.

Way of the Dawn Checkered Set Level MAX (Includes chest, belt, pants, and shoes)* {B++ Class}

"This armor piece is a study in balance and mastery. One of the rare few sets that level up, this particular piece was worn by warrior walking the thin line between light and darkness. The player has found/created all current pieces in the set. Gifted as a reward for the completion of the first playthrough, this armor set is the first B plus item the player received."

All stats +20.

Increased Attack by 15% at night.

Increased Defense by 15% during the day.

Grants three additional abilities when the whole set is worn;

Mass Effect: Area of effect attacks are 10% more powerful and require 5% less flame power.

Deux Ex Humanity: Every perfect dodge gains the player a 1.5% chance to increase a random stat permanently.

Balance: The player cannot be knocked back.

Void Gear (Includes chest, belt, pants, and shoes) {B+++ Class}

"A set of armor found in the endless palace. Most of its abilities remain a mystery, however, the few facts known about this item, detail a great sacrifice made in the name of love. The polar opposite of the Existence armor, the void specializes in nullification of enemy immunity and battles of attrition."

Complete Set: Grants increasing amounts of Auto-Healing the longer the player is fighting.

Unbreakable

All debuffs are nullified.

Despair Aura: causes fear in enemies.

Medium Flame immunity up to 20% of the player's flame power.

Mist Flames cause 60% less damage to the player.

Belladonna Bright Clothing (Include chest, belt, pants, and shoes) {C++ Class}

"Once a set of armor worn by the infamous witch of the forest, this outfit was crafted by the Atropa Family after the death of their daughter Blake. Contrary to its name this outfit is in no means brightly colored, and instead this outfit was created using only three colors; Nightmare Black, Crimson Blood, and Greedy Gold."

Complete Set: Blood bending and Vampiric Healing (drain blood to heal).

Weakness to Lighting Flames.

Aura of Fear: Simply seeing the player wear this outfit causes fear on a level higher than Despair Aura. Cannot be blocked.

Increased Stealth stats by 75%

Attack decreased by 25%

One Autumn Leaf; Shades of Fall

"Once owned by a great battle mage, the player received this set from the greatest and most famous of the Great Tacticians. Named after the battle mage's main avatar, this set boasts great attack, at the cost of high cool downs. The player was warmed by Ye Xiu himself, not to use this armor set until he has reached level 500."

Abilities:

Level 0-300: all stats +15

Level 300-320: Healing Light: The player heals at double speed. & Healing Wind; Heal Allies for half heath.

Level 321-340: Meteorain: Random Damage to Enemies & Meteor Strike: Heavily Damages One Enemy

Level 341-350: Cosmos Memory: Damages all Enemies

Level 351-370: Radiant Creation: Heals Party Completely & Doom of the Living: Cast debuffs on all enemies

Level 371-380: Incantation of Chains: Casts chains on all enemies slowly stealing FP and HP for 20 seconds.

Unknown: LOCKED (ten lines are hidden)

Mulling over his choices Tsuna immediately, banished the Belladonna Bright Clothing back into his inventory and started comparing the last three armor outfits before he finally made his choice. The One Autumn Leaf armor set didn't really add anything to his stats, and beyond the extra abilities, it wasn't much help at his current level. The Void Gear armor had much the same problem as One Autumn Leaf without the abilities, so banishing them back to his inventory Tsuna equipped the last armor set left.

Player [Sawada Tsunayoshi] has equipped [Way to the Dawn Checkered Set Level 3]. Three new abilities are now available. All stats are increased by 20. The player's attack is increased by 15%.

Going back to his inventory, he filtered his inventory to show only weapons. Now, that he had chosen his armor, he had a much clearer idea of what he needed for his weapon. He immediately sent back any weapons that were too bulky, or unusual. Maybe he would try some of them out another time, but not now. Reducing his weapons to only gloves, and gauntlets, Tsuna scans the list. Compared to the list of items he had for his other armory pieces, he had a massive amount of gloves and gauntlets. Nearly two hundred items were left, so he set to work limiting the list as best he could.

He removed anything above B Rank and removed anything made for beginners as well as anything far too specialized in physical combat. He needed a good mix of flame and physical ability if he wanted to have any chance of completing the limited time quest. Sadly, even with the list limited he was left with still had far too many weapons to go through. Frowning, he went back to the filter screen and started trying to adjust the stats, looking for ways to reduce the nearly fifty sets of weapons pieces into something more reasonable.

Thankfully, he was able to find a way to separate the terrible from the good when he remembered the level meter. Considering he rarely used anything under S-Rank it wasn't surprising that he had forgotten about it. Unlike all other armor pieces, weapon mats came with a level requirement as well as a rank. At his level, there was little he couldn't use, but just because he could use nearly any weapon he did obtain didn't mean he was a master at using them. Weapons training was still necessary and experience counted for more than hit points. A beginner swordsman could never defeat a master swordsman just because he could pick up a sword.

Clicking enter, Tsuna watched as the list shorted to ten pieces, he immediately sent six of them back to his inventory when he noticed that they were specialty items good for only very specific situations and not much else. The debuffs on them might not have had an impact if he was fighting normal Mafioso, but in a limited time quest, any debuff was a disadvantage he couldn't afford to have.

Spreading out the weapons information, he started to compare the last four weapons in his inventory to each other, looking for flaws and strengths.

Polaris Arias {B+ Class}

"A set of gauntlets created with ice from the sparkle of Stardust lodged in its metal. The radiance of cold space is said to pierce enemies in all directions. This item was obtained during the first playthrough from the boss drops of ‘The Dark Sky, Bermuda’.While strong against people using Night Flames, this set of gauntlets is limited in its might against any other flame of the sky."

Special Effects:

Lowers Defense and Attack of Enemies during an area of effect attacks by 10%.

Has a high chance (49%) of slightly lowering the amount of damage received from night flame attacks.

Fixed 12% chance to slightly increase damage while attacking.

-22% flame power against all flames other than Night Flames.

Bloody Gauntlet {B- Class}

"A brutal weapon that specializes in wounding enemies and reducing their ability to recover. It is said that this weapon’s performance reflects the mindset of its user. There is a high chance of increasing the blood lust of the player and party members. This weapon was created through weapon creation during the third playthrough."

Special Effects:

Has a high chance (47%) of causing the bleed debuff, which causes a constant HP loss on enemies.

Has a high chance (49%) of slightly lowering the amount of damage received from normal attacks.

Heals allies by a mild amount of HP for equal amounts of damage to the player up to 40% of the allies' health.

Sky's Ordinance {B+++ Class} Level 2 of ?

"This weapon holds the karma of many people. This famous set of gauntlets has a long history of protecting its wielders. Perfect for groups ofenemies, its true power can only be seen after going through numerous battles. Enemies defeated will increase its power. Defeat a fixed number of enemies to level this weapon. (27,064/1,000,000). This item was received as a prize for completing Sky's Raid Grounds."

Special Effects:

Reduce the flame attack and defense of enemies by a great amount 42%.

Flame attacks on the player have a 28% chance to restore FP to the player.

Any flame attacks by a flame other than Sky Flames have a 27% chance of harmonization (turning to stone) before hitting the player.

There is a small chance 1.5% of permanently increasing FP when the player damages an enemy.

Dragon's Claw {B Class}

"Handcrafted from the claws of a Steel Dragon located in a volcano. It is said that those defeated by this weapon will have burnt slash marks on their body. Dragon materials have a chance to increase stats and possibly increase rank. Bought as a low-level weapon, the player has increased this item's power and rank through material additions."

Special Effects:

Has a chance of causing the burn debuff, which slows enemies and causes damage at random points during a fight.

Deals great flame damage to one enemy and increase the player's own attack by a large amount.

The player is granted an increase in both attack and defense by 22%.

Resistant to flame attacks is increased by 19%.

Looking over the list Tsuna could already eliminate Bloody Gauntlets and Dragon Claw. Bloody Gauntlet was a weapon best used while in a party, while Dragon's Claw was great for attacks it was much better for battles where he only had one enemy. Considering that limited-time quests were pretty much always battles of himself against many, he would be better served to choose something else.

So down to two options Tsuna sent the rest of the items back to his inventory and compared the remaining two items side to side.

At first glance, Polaris Arias seemed like a good idea, with its enemy area of effect debuff, and physical damage lowering but he knew it would be a waste of a buff considering his natural regeneration was maxed out. Not to mention that at his current level increasing his attack wouldn’t do much if, in the long run, he ran out of flame power. Siding that screen back to his inventory, he equipped the other armor piece.

Player [Sawada Tsunayoshi] has equipped [Sky’s Ordinance]. Defeat 972,936 enemies to level up this weapon.

Feeling the gauntlets appear on his arms, he was a little surprised to see them change color to match his outfit. He had forgotten about that system effect.

Turning back to his inventory he was left with just one more armor piece to decide upon.

Normally after equipping chest, belt, shoes, headpieces and a weapon a player was no longer able to equip anything more. However, once a player completes a hidden mission at the end of a playthrough an extra slot can be obtained. Tsuna had only found the hidden mission once, but it was enough to grant him an extra slot. Theoretically, anything could be placed in this slot, from an additional chest piece, rings, or even a second belt but Tsuna had discovered through much trial and error that it was much more efficient to equip a wing array. Unlike the dexterity reduction he would gain from having extra armor piece on or being overburdened from having too much armor on, a wing array simply increased stats without a reduction in his weight or a limitation to his dexterity.

Sliding through his rather limited wing arrays inventory, of which only contained four pieces, Tsuna picked the only one with any buffs.

Player [Sawada Tsunayoshi] has equipped [Strife Black Wings]. FP is reduced by 6% any time the player uses a flame attack.

Waving his hand, the inventory screens vanished, and Tsuna was left staring at two screens. His stats screen and the screen asking if he wanted to participate in the special event. Ignoring one screen in favor of the other for a moment, he clicked on his stats. He was curious to see what new titles he gained.

Sawada Tsunayoshi, Level. 383

Exp: 209,189/383,000

HP:10121(SSS)* FP:10975 (SSS)* VIT: 321 (SSS)* STR:217 (A)* DEX:210 (SS)* INT:223 (A)* WIS:357 (SSS)* LUK:561 (S)*

Skills [Hidden]

*Note: Stats have been increased from armor buffs.

Title [show buff]

Hyper Intuition (Active): +12 WIS and +1 DEX per lvl.

Second Great Sky: +4 FP and +1 WIS per lvl.

Tainted Saint: During Battle only, WIS inc. by 10.

Student of the Demon (Reborn): + 10 VIT per lvl.

The Sky Tactician: +5 INT and +4 WIS during battle.

Protector of the People: + 5 to all stats when protecting someone during battle.

Protector of People II: + 7 to all stats when protecting someone during battle.

International Criminal: +8 STR and +6 FP per lvl.

Master Tactician: all allies gain +4 to all stats when led into battle by the player.

Healer in Training: a temporary increase in Sun Flames whenever the player is in the presence of a doctor, or a skilled flame user.

Handy Healer: a temporary boost in flame power whenever the player uses Sun Flame to heal.

Divisions of the Sky: +12 to HP and FP permanently whenever the player fights and wins against another sky flame user.

Will of the Strong: %#$$#*^&%@+*/#@ to the player.

[NEW] Armed and Ready: Weapons have a 6% chance to causes a critical hit.

[NEW]History Maker: Any time the player has three or more stats S Rank or above, the player gains an extra 3% experience during battle.

[NEW] Sky's Awakening: Enemies using flames of the sky have a 50% greater chance to be sensed while in the presence of the player in or out of battle.

Looking over his new titles, Tsuna blinked. He had never heard of any ability that allowed flame users to be sensed before attacking, and if this new title was anything like he was guessing it was going to add a whole new level to his fighting. Instead of having to wait for his enemies to launch an attack and then having to dodge, he could make the first move and attack first and yet something about the wording bothered him.

What did this title mean for normal day to day life? Could the percentage increase? The move itself didn't say, and while the addition of an extra ability could give him an edge in battle, there was also the fact that he might have to train a whole new ability that he hadn't accounted for.

Frowning Tsuna went over the matter in his mind.

While useful, the last place to be trying out a new title was a limited-time event. Tapping his fingers, he attempted to see if he could turn off the buff and apparently he could because a second later the title faded to gray, signaling its deactivation. Steeling himself, Tsuna banished the last screen away.

He clicked on the only screen left.

[A limited time quest is taking place near the train station. Would Player [Sawada Tsunayoshi] like to participate?]

He clicked on Yes and felt the ground fall out from beneath him.

XXxxxxXX

Chapter Four [1/3] | Chapter Four [3/3]

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amememightywarrior · 6 years

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[fanfic] The Echo, chapter 2

In which Ameme spends a whole day in Coerthas running errands and discovering she’s crazy.

Trigger warnings: needless slaughter of wildlife, really terrible art

I awoke the next morning to the soft noises of chocobos scratching at the straw in their stalls. I rolled over and grimaced as the sharp ends of the straw pile serving as my bed poked me in the cheek. The thick fur blanket I had found among my supplies covered my body completely, and once I poked my fingers out of its safety, I was inclined to keep it that way. It was absolutely freezing outside.

“Kweh! Kweh!” cried one of the chocobos.

A soft male voice addressed it with amusement. “You're awake, I take it? Shh, there are people sleeping in the barn still...”

I scootched the blanket's edge around until I could see. Adventurer lodging was the best in Camp Dragonhead: the loft area in the stables. We got the softest straw—there was only one softness—and it was surprisingly warm, but I could still see my breath as I peered into the early morning gloom. I was at the edge of the loft, so I could see a silver-haired Elezen man stroking the head of the only black chocobo there. If I had to guess, the man must have been the lord in charge of the camp, Haurchefant. His voice seemed much lower, though. Soothing, really. I watched sleepily as he fed the chocobo a treat, saddled it, and walked it out of the barn. Morning ride, I thought.

Goobbue rolled over with a sigh. “Wish he'd talk like that all the time,” she said. “Can you imagine that voice in your ear—”

“Thal's balls, Goobbue, shut up,” Essenta groused. “Soluvrain not paying you enough attention or something?”

There was a grunt at the other end of the loft. Soluvrain evidently did not think much of that comment. Goobbue said, “A girl can appreciate a nice voice, that's all I'm saying!”

“Sounds more like you're about to start trying to climb the wrong tree, if you know what I mean.”

“Essenta...”

Essenta threw her thin pillow at Goobbue. “Don't Essenta me! Oi, Ameme. Word to the wise: Don't even try to touch any of the Ishgardians round here. If they don't think you're some exotic animal, then they've got enough baggage to sink a barge. Lord Haurchefant's no exception. He might act like yer the most delightful thing he's ever seen, but that's as far as you'll want to get. Trust me, it ain't worth it.”

The floorboards creaked as Moonlight River sat up. “All right, that's enough listening to girl talk,” he said. “Breakfast and morning exercises, anyone? That'll be the warmest we'll be 'til lunch time.”

I couldn't have agreed more, since I had next to no interest in anyone that way even if that was allegedly the entire reason I had traveled back in time. With much yawning, I got dressed under my blanket. One of my sleeves was home to a guest. Midgardsormr nearly gave me a heart attack when he chomped on my fingers as I stuck my arm through. I shoved him out the other end and judged him silently with my eyes. He huffed and faded from view. My fingers throbbed. He'd left a neat arc of red indentations, the little bastard, but at least he hadn't broken skin. The thick hem of my sleeves hid my fingers easily enough. I left the warm refuge of my blanket and packed all my things neatly to stow in the corner. The others were gone by the time I finished getting dressed.

The chocobos warked at me in a friendly fashion as I slid down the ladder. They were a well-trained bunch, these birds, but they were slightly intimidating as a group just because most were meant for Elezen riders. They towered over me. The two at the end of the row were the absolute sweetest birds, though. They put their heads over the stall doors for beak rubs and I obliged.

I wandered around Camp Dragonhead in confusion after breakfast until I spotted several late knights running into what I had dubbed the strategy room, where the lord's desk sat. I followed them and found the room filled with shirtless men and women wearing thin cotton tabards to preserve modesty. My adventuring compatriots were similarly clad and shivering. It looked like every single knight on day shift was in here.

“Ameme!” Goobbue called, waving at me. “C'mere! We're about to get started. You might want to ditch the fur.”

As I shed my warmest layers, Haurchefant bounded into the room. I could almost feel the enthusiasm radiating off him as he pulled off his haubergeon. “Attention!” he shouted. The knights snapped upright and saluted him in unison. The adventurers were rather more lackadaisical about it. I stood there like a dope. Goobbue nudged me until I clumsily copied everyone else. Haurchefant took no notice. “Good morn to all of you!” he said. “I've the most delightful tidings! The latest shipment of coffee beans has arrived and a fresh batch of coffee is brewing as we speak.” He beamed as the knights made pleased noises. “Of course, nothing wakes the body up more than exercise,” he added. “Squats, three sets!”

I didn't know what a set was, so I decided to just copy Goobbue until she stopped. Haurchefant joined the ranks of the knights with great excitement. Since I was just behind the end of the knights, he ended up in front of me. I found myself staring at his back muscles as he swung his arms back and forth. It was a good thing he had a thick skirt on, otherwise I would've also been staring at his ass, too. That would've been inappropriate and not a little weird.

Goobbue completed her squats and shook her arms out. I stretched my legs. Haurchefant called out, “Sit-ups, three sets!” And once those were done: “Push-ups, three sets!” I was starting to feel a bit toasty. That was when Haurchefant threw a surprise my way. “Dragoon squats, ten of them!” he called cheerily.

“Ten!” groaned Essenta. “You tyrant! I thought these were warm-ups, not kill-me-before-dawn-ups!”

“Essenta, my friend, 'tis after dawn,” Haurchefant said, turning to face us. “Ameme, have you ever done dragoon squats? They are as follows.” He dropped to the floor for a push-up, jumped to his feet, and did a leap combined with a phantom spear throw. “That's one.”

I had figured they would be more difficult. I did the ten, with Haurchefant happily following along and saying things like 'Splendid jump!' and 'If I didn't know better, I would think you were a master of the lance!' He was the only one other than me who was not too out of breath to speak after ten dragoon squats. It was hard for me to tell if his praise was genuine or just shameless flattery. He was just so over the top about everything, you know?

“Take a break,” he said when everyone was done. “Is it not invigorating to start off the morning sweating?!”

Essenta muttered something uncomplimentary under her breath.

“Rather than our usual ending routine, I thought I'd try something different,” Haurchefant said. “Ser Moiroix! Have you not learnt a new dance during your last leave? Come teach us!”

The singled-out knight groaned. “My lord, did I not also mention I was terrible at it?”

“Then you must needs practice,” said Haurchefant. “After all, dexterity of the feet is as necessary to battle as a good, strong core! One cannot fight dragons if one constantly trips!”

Moiroix, red in the face, came to the front of the pack and clumsily tried to teach everyone some sort of stately ballroom dance. Haurchefant got on her case about incorrect footwork. I got a bad case of second-hand embarrassment. On the upside, I learned a new dance.

“You're from up north somewhere, aren't you?” Goobbue asked me, a bit too loudly. “Know any exotic dances?”

I cringed mentally as Haurchefant's head turned in my direction. “I don't know about exotic,” I said. “They're definitely not ballroom dances.”

“Let's see them!” she said.

“I don't remember them very well,” I said. Or at all, actually. I just remembered that I knew some dances. I didn't remember the dances themselves.

Haurchefant rescued me when he announced, “Warm-ups are over! Coffee is available in the mess hall.” He bounded over to me, looking like he'd already had at least three cups of coffee. “Ameme! 'Tis your first full day with us. I pray you slept well! Adventurers report to Ser Hourlinet, in case you were unaware, but should you ever run into any urgent issues, pray come to me directly.” He paused, looking me up and down. “Your armor is highly unusual,” he said.

I looked down at myself. I had chain leggings and plated boots of an intricate design. My gloves were colorful and feathered. Hell if I knew where they came from. “I pick up pieces here and there,” I said. “From the fallen bodies of my enemies, usually.” I held my arms up to show the feathered gloves. “This...was a gift from some crafters.” Maybe. I couldn't recall much.

“Fascinating!” he said. “Well, I know the top to be in the style of the skyraiders. The boots are most unusual and I cannot place them.” He pointed at my legs. “These, though, appear to be Ishgardian knight's trousers.”

This was a pop quiz I did not like. I touched the chain part of the leggings and tried to remember.

—The keep was frozen over, its halls patrolled by ice sprites and the living dead. I stood in the corner with a torn journal page in hand, reading the sorrow of a man who no longer wanted to see his children for shame of what he had become. In the corner, I found a chest full of spare equipment. My own had been shredded in my fights with the keep's undead residents—

“Found these at an abandoned outpost in a chest,” I said. “It was...haunted. By zombies.” I shuddered.

“Forgive me, it seems I have dredged up a bad memory,” said Haurchefant. “I pray the boots are less horrific in origin!”

I raised an eyebrow at him. He was grilling me in the most friendly fashion, and no wonder. My outfit must have made him highly suspicious. I angled one foot so he could look at the intricate design. Where were these from...? Hmm...ahh. “I snuck into a Garlean outpost for food and stole someone's boots,” I said. “I used the rest of her outfit, too, but returned everything else.”

Haurchefant stooped to study them. “These are Garlean?” he asked with some surprise. “They're most unusual, then. Quite beautiful, really.”

“I think the Empire's armor designers were inspired by the things they found in the Far East,” I said. “That was where I was when I got these.”

“The Far East!! My friend, you are truly well-traveled! I should like to hear of your adventures one day!” He straightened and regarded me with a warm smile. “In fact, why don't you—”

“Seigneur Haurchefant!” called someone from the other side of the room.

Haurchefant, still talking, turned to see who wanted his attention. “—join me some time for lunch—Oui, Inquisiteur?”

A woman in long white and blue robes waved at him. “Avec moi, s'il vous-plait!”

“Un moment, madame! Pardon me, ladies, but it seems duty calls. I pray your day goes well!” He gave us a courtly bow and strode away to the inquisitor to see what she wanted.

Goobbue, Essenta, and I exchanged glances. Essenta said, “You are now the prime exotic animal, shipped in from the Far East.”

“Essenta!” Goobbue scolded. “Really! Just because Lord Haurchefant likes hearing stories...” She turned to me. “Did you really steal your boots from an Imperial soldier?”

“Thought it was a good idea at the time, but then again I was starving,” I said with a shrug. “They don't feed their soldiers very well, either.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Ew. Not a surprise. They're all savages over there. All right, let's report to Ser Hourlinet.”

She and Essenta headed for a man in a yellow overcoat surrounded by adventurers. Hourlinet was the efficient sort, I could see. He had everyone's tasks scheduled in a neat little grid, including mine. Goobbue was runner for the day – she grimaced at this, since it meant a lot of travel – while Essenta got assigned to guard some porters. Soluvrain and Moonlight River got firewood duty. As for me, someone had creatively tasked me with 'ridding the immediate area of nuisance creatures', which meant feral crocs. That was my only task all day.

“Are you sure she should do that alone?” Moonlight River asked. “Mayhap Soluvrain could—”

“Given what I have seen her do, she is likely more than equal to this task,” Hourlinet said. “Now, with the storm strengthening, I would suggest we all set about our respective tasks with alacrity.” He turned to the rest of the adventurers.

“I don't think the pay's worth your life,” Moonlight River said to me. “Say the word and I'll come help.”

“It's fine,” I said. “I'll see you later.” I headed out. Time to get a real warm-up.

~*~

I stood over the latest carcass, panting hard. Blood dripped off the blade of my axe slowly, already beginning to freeze mere seconds after its forcible extraction from the vessel. Feeling oddly out of sorts, I scooped up handfuls of snow and began cleaning everything. The space around me turned pink. Only when I glanced idly at the dead wolf did I notice the sunset had turned the snow orange.

Have I been out here all day? I wondered. Best head back. I'm hungry...I think.

My killing spree had ended at the top of a hill. I gazed down at the trail of death and destruction I had left with a bit of a sick feeling in my stomach. “Midgardsormr,” I said, “how long have I been out here?”

The tip of one wing brushed my cheek as my dragonet companion dropped onto my shoulder. «Sunrise to sunset,» he said. «Oft didst thou lose thyself to excess bloodshed in the end. That thou hast returned to thyself in the span of a single sun is a great improvement. Come, let us return to the sons of Ishgard. The native fauna has been terrorized enough for one day.»

“I...yes, that's a good idea,” I said, struck by both my apparent ability to kill mindlessly for hours and Midgardsormr thinking this was better than before. “I'm really broken, aren't I? I thought coming back fixed me. This is not normal!”

«To heal will take time,» he replied. «To rewind time for a single mortal is miracle enough without asking for that which broke the world to be fixed without recompense. Go, champion. They will not mind a little blood.»

I spent a few more minutes cleaning my boots and furs before heeding his command. The knights I passed greeted me with raised hands and bobbing heads. The sun was long gone when I reached the gates of Camp Dragonhead.

“There you are!” said the guard. “We wondered if you had met an untimely demise in the jaws of a croc. Report to Ser Hourlinet, if you will. You might find some leftover food if you're nice to Medguistl.”

I thanked him and trudged through the courtyard. The knights regularly shoveled inside the outpost, which was a blessing because it meant I wasn't tracking pink snow for all to see. Of course, the number of people outside now that the temperature was now well below zero was close to zilch anyway. Lighted windows and torches showed me the way through the central arch.

The sound of someone beating the stuffing out of a training dummy distracted me from my pensive march. I veered off course to investigate. The training area held only a single torch, leaving half the area in shadow. I saw long silver hair gleaming in the firelight, bouncing to and fro. As I drew close, I could make out the body attached to the hair. It was an Elezen man, and one who could jump absurdly high at that. I watched as he vaulted into the air, stretched to his full length, and hurled a black spear at the training dummy. The thin blade pierced the heart of the dummy with ease. The man landed practically on top of it, ripped his spear out, and did a few graceful spins. Then, with a full grasp on the mechanics of coolness, he twirled the spear to rest the butt on the ground in an at-ease position.

“Eavesdroppers and spies shall be taken as new training dummies,” he said, not turning around.

I blinked and looked from side to side. Who...? Oh, he was talking to me. Well, that was rude! I frowned at his back.

He turned to glare at me. His eyes were surprisingly dark for an Elezen of Ishgardian birth. His hair could have used a trim. What might have once been bangs now brushed his nose and even in the dark of night I could see his split ends were out of control. He hmphed at me, his glare acquiring a contemptuous air. “A coin-starved adventurer, back from her errand,” he said. “Hardly worth the trouble. Run along, girl, unless you want to take on my lance.”

That was even ruder! I wasn't a girl, I was a woman! And his lance wasn't even that impressive! More importantly, something about him was very, very familiar.

He wasn't in the mood to deal with me. Rather than keep talking, he spun his lance and leapt high into the air. Like a diving falcon, he aimed for my heart.

Oh, so he's serious about using me as a dummy, I thought.

Curious, I chose to block his attack rather than dodge. His lance was sturdier than it looked and his reaction time was excellent. The blade did not break when it glanced off my axe. The man landed with one foot on the flat of my blade and used it to propel himself out of reach. Unsurprisingly, his landing was as light as a butterfly despite the ice and snow covering the ground.

He hummed thoughtfully, swinging his weapon out to the side to prepare his next move. “Interesting,” he said. “I take it you've volunteered to be my training dummy.” He darted forward. I dodged in the nick of time. Damn, he was fast when he decided to use those legs of his to cover distance rather than altitude. I blocked several of his graceful sweeping blows easily and tried to figure out his fighting style. He wore light chainmail and no head cover, but as I studied him, I discovered he had absolutely no openings. The only time he opened himself up even a sliver was at the very top of his massive jumps, and there was no way I would be able to reach him up there.

He found me to be a tough opponent, too. All of his strikes had become cautious after that first attack, mostly aimed testing my defenses. The main issue for him was that his style had massive telegraphs due to the length of his weapon and the constant grip adjustments he had to do. Yes, it would hurt if he made contact...but he would have to get through my axe first.

I redirected my attention to his feet. Maybe if I...ohhh, yes, that was a good plan...although I was banking on him not knowing any hand-to-hand techniques and that he wasn't seriously planning on killing me...

He tried to skewer me again, this time with more intent than before. I twisted my hips to the side, just barely avoiding both the lance blade and the secondary winglike blade on one side. He was just within arms' length now. Maybe he thought he had me, because I could see him smirking and the muscles of his body bracing to pull the lance backwards. I slammed my axe vertically into the dirt. The handle locked the lance up by way of the winglike blade.

Ah. So he was actually trying to kill me. Good to know. I released my axe and put one hand on his wrist. His smirk turned to surprise as I ducked under his arms and slammed my fist into his gut. Not exactly the brightest move—the guy had abs of steel under the chainmail—but it took him surprise. He sort of bent over, either in reaction or just to keep track of me, and transferred to a one-handed grip on his lance. I cheerfully dragoon-jumped my head right into his chin. He made a bitten-off noise of surprise and reared back. Then, because he was a seasoned fighter, he adapted to the sudden close quarters by trying to punch me in the head. I ducked. The sound of metal scraping metal alerted me to the fact that he had slid his lance up to get it off my axe handle. I darted away and retrieved my weapon once he had backed up. We watched each other guardedly.

“You don't fight on the ground much, do you?” I asked when he made no move to attack again.

He snorted. “No. Mayhap I will after this, if only to spar with you again.”

I growled at him. “Is it sparring when you're actively trying to skewer me?”

The man found this hilarious. He let the tip of his lance drop as he laughed heartily. “That last move was a bit much considering your armor,” he said. “I would apologize, but as the bruise on my jaw will attest, you can more than hold your own in such situations.”

“Luckily for you.”

“Indeed, though given our earlier dancing, I suspected your level of skill was far higher than I previously assumed.” He waved a finger at the sky as Elezen were wont to do when they wanted to emphasize something. “I would end our sparring match here, my lady, as there are places I must be ere the morrow. First, though, I would have your name. 'Tisn't often I come across an opponent such as yourself.”

I decided he was a little on the weird side, as far as Ishgardians went. “Ameme,” I said. “Who are you?”

“Estinien,” he replied. “I shall remember your name, Ameme.” He gave me a curt nod, strapped his lance to his back, and jumped his crazy ass over the wall of the outpost without another word.

What the hell was that? I asked myself. If that was the guy I'd come back to save...I would have to tell myself I had terrible taste in men.

“Ameme!”

I jumped at the fluting male voice behind me. Haurchefant came striding across the courtyard. Some part of me relaxed when I saw him. “Hello, I'm back,” I said when he arrived in front of me.

“Yes, so I see,” he said. “When you did not report back by lunch, I confess Ser Hourlinet grew rather worried. Where have you been?”

I pointed vaguely in the direction of my activities. “I was killing feral crocs as assigned,” I said.

He raised an eyebrow. “All day?”

“Oh, no,” I said. “I ran out of crocs, you see...so I started on the wolves...I think there may have been some ice sprites, too.” I noticed my fingers getting fidgety with my axe handle and stilled them.

“Ah,” said Haurchefant. “And upon your return, you chose to get into a fight with the Azure Dragoon?”

I stared at him, wondering if I was about to get in trouble.

He sucked in a breath. “Ameme...”

“I'm sorry,” I said. “I was just watching him beat up the training dummy and he decided that meant I wanted to fight.”

Haurchefant laughed. “Oh, that is no surprise,” he said. “The Azure Dragoon is, shall we say...not a sociable sort of man.” He shook his head. “No, that is not what I wanted to say. Ameme! You are magnificent!”

I stared some more. Was that code for me being in trouble?

“To think, you were hard at work all day ridding the land of dangerous beasts, only to return and go axe-to-lance with the Azure Dragoon! And with such grace! I've never seen aught like it! You are truly, exceptionally strong, with unbelievable stamina!” He gestured excitedly as he spoke.

“Ah,” I said, blinking.

He picked up on my confusion and abruptly calmed himself. “After all that work, you must certainly be hungry,” he said. “I have taken the liberty of asking Medguistl to prepare a late dinner for you. Pray partake of it and take tomorrow off to rest. Come!” He led me to the kitchens and spent the entire time I waited for food recounting what he had seen and asking questions about this or that technique.

“What's an Azure Dragoon?” I asked when he managed to stop long enough to drink the orange juice Medguistl the chef gave him.

“Ah, I had forgotten you are new to the region,” Haurchefant said. “Pray forgive me. The Azure Dragoon is a title given to the strongest and wisest member of the order of dragoons. Among all Azure Dragoons past and present, Estinien Wyrmblood is considered exceptional.”

“He does jump pretty high,” I allowed. “So he just shows up to beat on training dummies?”

Haurchefant had a little laughing fit at the 'jumps pretty high' line. “I know not why he was here,” he said after recovering. “From what I have heard, the man comes and goes as he pleases. He has also thoroughly rejected Ishgardian high society, despite his status. I find him quite an interesting character, truth be told. I daresay you'll find him a far more difficult opponent should you fight him again. He is known for his ability to adapt to other fighting styles.”

Well, that was great. What if I didn't want to fight him again? But figuring out how to get the better of him had been pretty exciting, not to mention a far sight better than mindlessly killing animals.

“Is aught amiss?” Haurchefant asked, frowning. I shook my head. “Hmm. Yet you look as though something weighs heavily on your mind. Pray tell me. Did you not wish to fight the Azure Dragoon?”

“It's not that,” I said. To tell him, or...? I remembered Midgardsormr saying that healing took time. How did one heal unrelenting blood lust? “I just...lost time today.”

“How so?”

I looked away. “I remember what I was doing,” I said. “It's just that I...I lost track of myself all day...and all I did was kill...”

Haurchefant studied me silently. “I see,” he said. “Would you say this was a state of mind?”

I shrugged. “I stopped thinking, that was the problem. I don't want to do that kind of thing, but...” I waved a hand aimlessly. “I shouldn't be doing that. It's not normal. I'm not just a killing machine or a weapon. I'm a person. I...” Who was I talking to? It wasn't Haurchefant. “I'm a person,” I finished, feeling stupid.

Haurchefant reached across the table to grip my hand. “Forgive me for being too forward, but I must speak my thoughts,” he said. “Ameme. You are neither killing machine nor weapon. Though slaying those beasts has helped us, I would rather you put your considerable skills to use in ways that do not make you think you are nothing more than a tool. To that end, I shall ensure Ser Hourlinet assigns you more peaceful tasks.”

“I'll do them,” I said. “Someone has to go around killing things. It may as well be me since I'm so good at it.”

“I will not hear of it,” Haurchefant said. “Ameme, you are not a tool! You are a person, splendid fighter though you are. Now, finish this excellent meal and go to bed. Tomorrow you will have no assignments. Pray use that time to gather your thoughts and realize you are more than the sum of what you kill.” He patted my knuckles and released my hand.

Haurchefant is a nice guy, but he definitely doesn't know me, I thought. Fighting was all I did. Nothing he said would change that.

...but...

Maybe he was right, in a way. Maybe I could do more than just fight. No, I would do more than just fight. I had to if I wanted to stay sane. I would become the person he imagined I was.

“Let us speak of less serious things,” Haurchefant said. “Tell me more of your adventures in the Far East! I would not dare to imagine I know much of the world past Eorzea.”

“I didn't spend much time there,” I said a bit nervously. What was I supposed to tell him? I didn't remember.

“But surely you were there long enough to know something of the food!” he said.

Oh gods...what did I eat over there? Sushi? “Raw fish on rice,” I said.

“What?!”

“There was a lot of sea food...”

He leaned forward, fascinated. The more I talked, the more I remembered the little details. I even recalled climbing onto curved roofs and running around a port town, as well as being yelled at by men in yukata for doing so. It was a struggle to describe yukata to someone who had never seen them, but Haurchefant was somehow enthusiastic about the idea anyway.

Anyway, it was very nice chatting with someone who just wanted to hear stories. He was a busy man, so I also appreciated the amount of time he took just to talk to me. When I was finished eating, he thanked me for sharing my experiences and bade me good night before rushing off to do something or other—he mentioned reports—and leaving me all by my lonesome. I made sure to thank Medguistl for the food before I dragged myself to the chocobo stables for the night.

#fanfic #ffxiv #writing #maybe I should work on getting the rest of it written #naaaaaah who'd do something like that

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firestorm26621 · 4 years

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Top 10 of 2019

Disclaimer: The following are not what I consider to be the “best” movies of the year, at least not in the objective sense of the word. I’m not even entirely sure one can judge “best” in an objective manner, or by what criteria that could be measured. Competence in composition and construction, acting, design, music; these are all only parts of what makes a film connect with an audience, and some truly great films have few of these factors in any great quantity, while there are many that are practically perfect films by these gauges which had very little impact on me personally.

So, setting all that aside, what follows are my top 10 films of 2017 only in the sense that they are films I personally enjoyed the most, be that by conjuring the biggest emotional reaction, making the biggest intellectual impact, or simply inspiring the greatest sense of wonderment and appreciative awe in me. These sorts of things are not easily measurable and certainly aren’t objective, but I know what I like, and it’s these.

#10 – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I loved 2018′s “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”, which was a heartfelt documentary that lovingly explored who Fred Rogers was as a man and what drove him on his mission of kindness. So much so, that when a live-action Mr. Rogers film was announced I was skeptical, at best; it had already been done before after all. It was a surprise then, that this film takes an entirely different view of the topic altogether. This is not a film about Mr. Rogers the man; while Hanks gives an amazing performance, imbuing him with tremendous empathy but with a hint of slightly mysterious withholding, the film makes it clear that we’re not here to re-learn about Mr. Rogers, but instead to explore what it looks like when his teachings and philosophies are applied to a cynical man in a cynical world. The main character, played with understated angst by Matthew Rhys, has been severely jaded by the pain and tragedy in his own life, so much so that he has cut off his empathy in an effort to avoid more of it. But upon beginning to interview Mr. Rogers for an article, the film sets him on a powerfully emotional journey as he struggles, fights, and eventually reconciles with the emotional honesty and kindness that Mr. Rogers confronts him with. It’s not subtle about its themes or its message, but it delivers them like Rogers would have, with emotional insight, openness, and compassion.

#9 – Hustlers

This one reminded me quite a bit of 2017′s “I, Tonya”, another film that could technically be classified as a “crime drama” but that falls on the edge of that category, full of clever, biting dialogue, fallible characters, and an amusing Coen brothers-esque tone. This one is a little different from the others in this sub-genre though; by being entirely female-led but also by being incredibly stylized in a way akin to a Guy Ritchie movie of old. But then, the way the camera moves is distinct and purposeful, almost like a Scorsese movie; this film definitely has a bit of Goodfellas in it. So clearly, the film is taking influences from other films in the crime family, but the way it blends those influences into a neon-soaked ride is what makes it so interesting. And amidst all those influences, Jennifer Lopez is giving the performance of her career as a stripper matriarch who commands every room she’s in and who’s every outfit and stance could be a character poster. The film uses her maternal powerhouse performance to focus the crime story more on the closeness of the leads friendship than any other of these types of films. The end result of all this is a film that tells a very familiar crime story in an incredibly unique, colorful, delightful way.

#8 – Parasite

Parasite is a very odd film. It starts as what is ostensibly a dark comedy following a poor family living in the basement level of an apartment building who find themselves defrauding a rich family in order to gain access to their opulent home. While it’s following this thread it’s pretty hilarious, with the con-man schemes to get them more and more ingrained in the household becoming increasingly absurd, but at the same time, they become increasingly grim as well. And as you’re watching this comedy play out, a sense of foreboding begins to creep into the proceedings. And ever so slowly, the film begins to morph into a bizarre, dark, tension-filled thriller about the lethal gap between the rich and the poor, and the lengths to which people will go to close it or to maintain their place at the top of it. The film boasts a large ensemble cast, and they are all so good that none truly stand out above the others, making the film feel like a large-scale, zoomed out picture of how different personalities handle the class structure they are in. And when the film decides it’s ready to pull the trigger on the tension it has been ratcheting up for the entire run time, the explosion of cathartic expulsion and tragic consequences hit like a bullet, leaving you both astounded and heart-broken.

#7 – Little Women

Ladybird was one of my favorite films of 2017, and upon hearing that its director was helming an adaptation of this classic novel, it felt like a perfect fit. Greta Gerwig has a real knack for capturing authentic familial relationships; slyly examining both the complicated nature of the love of family and the dichotomy of the closeness and emotional distance that can somehow exist simultaneously within those relationships. This film continues that trend, being a charming look at strong personalities butting up against each other, growing closer, and growing apart. It’s helped by excellent performances across the board; all the girls are bringing real emotional weight and vulnerability to their characters, and there are a few standout moments from Saoirse Ronan that are absolutely heartbreaking. Of course, here is where I have to admit my dimness; I walked out of the film really disliking the ending, thinking it far too saccharine for the story that preceded it, and as I began to record my thoughts on the drive home, as I talked about that point, the genius of that ending dawned on me abruptly, and suddenly the themes came into sharper focus and the film took on new levels of depth. The remixing of the story, and the cross-cutting between time periods, suddenly had much more meaning and power. And with that, the film elevated itself above other period pieces, other adaptations of the famous novel, and into a powerfully affecting study of the evolution of a family.

#6 – Doctor Sleep

This one is going to be my dark horse pick, I know it. I haven’t seen it on any other lists or even heard much about it after its release, but for me, it was one of the most imaginative and well-executed fantasy stories of the year. The film is a chronicle of the life of Danny Torrance, the young boy from The Shining, picking up right after the events of that story and walking through the rest of his life; from learning to control his power and banish ghosts to lock-boxes in his mind, to losing himself to his visions and becoming an alcoholic, to cleaning himself up after finding a moral use for his abilities, to protecting a psychic girl from a pack of immortal energy vampires. If that sounds like a lot, it is; the film is long and it covers a lot of ground, but it moves at a clip without ever feeling like it’s rushing itself. The world expands upon the foundation of The Shining, really digging into this universe of super-powered psychics with a variety of abilities and the dangerous monsters that surround them. It plays with its psychic elements in a way that is both imaginative and yet grounded; it isn’t afraid to get trippy but it’s all understated and tangible, never letting us forget that these are real people in real danger. To that end, it also doesn’t shy away from its horror roots; the film isn’t scary in any real way, but it is often unsettling, not shying away from the horrific nature of its story. Ultimately, it manages to be both a worthy adaptation of Stephen King's novel and a worthy followup to its film predecessor, which is a feat in and of itself.

#5 – Avengers: Endgame

Being the culmination of more than a decades worth of films was never going to be easy, and being the second part of that climactic Infinity War story that was so exciting last year set the bar extremely high. And yet, Endgame lived up to everything that came before, as a celebration of its earned history and as a powerful cathartic release to years worth of character development. The film pretty clearly divides itself into three distinct acts. The first act that works as an emotional anchor, laying low on the action but allowing its characters to really feel the events of the universe and also allowing its actors to really stretch their muscles. The second is what no one saw coming; turning into something of a heist movie as it tours the whole history of the MCU. Then, of course, there is the third act climax that pumps its adrenaline and gives the fans all the service they could want while also putting a perfect end-cap on the arcs of its two main characters. As with many of the MCU films, it's sheer existence is a feat on its own, but as the final point on the massive web of stories the MCU has given us, Endgame was a satisfying and powerful success.

#4 – The Farewell

This film was probably the most educational experience of the year for me. The dynamics of a Chinese family aren’t something I have a ton of experience with, but The Farewell cast such an endearing, focused, insightful light on this particular family that it’s hard not to feel like you’re being let in on a secret while you’re watching, as if you’re being invited to participate in the most vulnerable moments of a family during its most trying times. I don’t think any film has made me feel like part of a family on a screen as much as The Farewell did; it explores a family coming together upon learning that its elderly matriarch has been diagnosed with cancer and that the majority of the family has decided not to tell her about it. The idea sounds a little out-there to Western ears, including mine, and including the main character, played by Awkwafina proving she can translate her awkward comedy skills into awkward family drama pretty damn effectively. And so the film attempts to reconcile these disparate cultural concepts, exploring in-depth not just what such a lie constitutes, but what about a particular culture would lead to that being thought the kindest option. The film never paints any villains or portrays any of its differing viewpoints as right or wrong, instead it’s more interested in the spaces between them; how a family with such a wide gamut of views can maintain itself, and the tensions produced from such cultural & geographic distances. And in the end, you feel for each of these family members, all trying to do their best in their own way, to maintain the bonds of a family.

#3 – Ford v Ferrari

Ford v Ferrari is, obviously, a racing movie, and racing movies are fun. But the best racing movies have a power, an energizing, blood-raising quality that is rarely replicated elsewhere. And Ford v Ferrari is the best racing movie in at least a decade. The racing is phenomenal, with high-octane stunts and cinematography that maintain a grounded realism; to my eye, despite the glut of dangerous maneuvers, there was not a single shot in the movie that did not appear to have been achieved with a physical camera. Any CG involved was woven in so smoothly that you never think to consider if what you're seeing isn’t real. Add to that a pumping score timed to the motors and the fantastic reaction shots Christian Bale is giving during them, and you have some of the best racing sequences put to film in a very, very long time. The rest of the movie is pretty great too. The story of a racing team contending with inferior technology and corporate bureaucracy is told in a purposeful yet understated way, without a lot of stylistic embellishments in how it was shot. The editing and pacing are also crafted in a skilled manner, with the film having a propulsive energy that carries you along, without anything being rushed or overstaying it’s welcome. And then there is the actual best part of this film; the career highlight performances of both Matt Damon and Christian Bale. Damon makes being utterly charming look completely effortless, playing a character trying to walk a fine line between being a “car guy” and a “company man”. Bale, meanwhile, is giving one of the best performances of his career as Ken Miles, a man without any understanding of the word “tact”, while also somehow maintaining a lovable teddy-bear quality. He’s a dedicated family man with a childlike joy of driving who is completely loyal to his friends, and who happens to have zero social refinements and no interest in playing any political games, ever. The film uses these two characters to their fullest, and ultimately the film has a ton of heart and real emotional weight born out of us connecting to these men and really wanting them to succeed.

#2 – 1917

1917 is absolutely amazing as a technical piece of work. I have no idea how they accomplished what they did in this film, with it presented as two continuous shots, through barren wastelands, underground bunkers, verdant fields, truck convoys, blasted towns, raging rivers, and one surreal, mesmerizing sequence progressing through a city on fire in the middle of the night that is so visually stunning it has been burned into my brain forever. The camera pans, dips, and circles around them, making it feel as though you yourself are a third member of this team, following along with them.�� If you were to pay close attention, you could likely spot the hidden cuts and tricks they used, but the film is drawing you along on such an engaging journey through this war that you don’t. And it’s not just a technical marvel for its own sake; it serves the story of two men in a race against time, with less than a day to make a journey to save many lives, and you can physically feel the time ticking away as you follow along with them on their trek. The film presents its themes, those of the perseverance required to save lives in the midst of so much death, in a way that you cannot tear your eyes from and won’t soon forget.

#1 – Jojo Rabbit

Jojo Rabbit accomplishes things I never thought possible. It’s a comedy through-and-through, which would normally mean there is little chance of it landing at the top of my favorite films of the year. But this film does something astounding with its comedy; it uses it as a tool, deftly weaving it’s absurd humor amidst its incredibly heavy themes, exploring ideas of hate as identity, the pressures of culturally accepted intolerance, and the inherent nature of kindness. All while an imaginary Hitler eats unicorn meat. It’s wild. Part of the way the film accomplishes this is through its fantastic lead. Jojo himself is a 10-year-old on the cusp of having his naive views of the world around him being either codified into his beliefs or broken by the realities of his situation. Which one happens is not only the central conflict of the film but also the primary thematic device. By showing us the grimmest of situations through the eyes of a child who hasn’t fully grasped their weight, the film is able to explore serious ideas in the silliest possible ways, without ever diminishing their meaningfulness. The film can be incredibly touching, poignant, agonizing, and joyous in a span of minutes, and they all land with equal force. It’s an amazing thing to behold, and it’s one of the best films of the decade.

Runners-Up:

The Last Black Man in San Francisco - It uses the backdrop of gentrification to tell an impacting, occasionally comic, occasionally surreal story of trying to latch onto legacy and purpose through history that uses its painterly aesthetic and unique tone to great effect.

I Am Mother - It takes an initially simple science fiction premise then explores the hell out of it, weaving in coming of age ideas about autonomy and developing morality, and putting it into a tense thriller package full of manipulation and wonderful acting.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World - The animation is just as impressive and awe-inspiring, and this entry offers a far more interesting villain, some great action sequences, and a conclusion to the trilogy that is poignant, powerful, and rather beautiful.

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