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#dragonsong war spoilers

airehoney · 2 years

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"Can you forgive me?"

I've been thinking a lot about Aymeric's actions at the peace conference after Nidhogg's arrival. If his arrow had found its mark, or if he had been forced to later kill Estinien either himself or through the warrior of light like with his father. Forced to end the life of his best friend for the sake of Ishgard.

I don't doubt that he would have been able to do it in the moment; Aymeric is very duty driven and does not want for conviction. He would do anything to see Ishgard and her people prosper.

However, I do think it would have broken him. Just shooting at a Nidhogg-controlled Estinien at the peace conference left him plagued with guilt.

After Nidhogg's defeat and Estinien's rescue Aymeric asks his friend:

"Can you forgive me?"

Ostensibly, this question is for Estinien. He wants to know everything is right between them. But it also feels like he's asking permission. Am I allowed forgiveness? Can I forgive myself?

Aymeric's biggest fault has always been self-doubt. Doubt that has at times left him speechless or unable to move forward with a course of action. Estinien's death would not have just left Aymeric bereft of his friend; it likely would have left him forever questioning if he could have done something differently to prevent it.

#ser aymeric #aymeric de borel #ffxiv aymeric #aymeric #ffxiv #ffxiv spoilers #heavensward spoilers #dragonsong war #dragonsong war spoilers #head full of aire

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mythriteshah · 6 months

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Pg. 7: Dragonsong Robe

MODEL: Thiji sor Higuri

Against all odds and every circumstance, the Satrap of Radz-at-Han had successfully liberated his dearest sister from the horrors of the Thirteenth shard. In a poetic twist of irony, Lady Azdaja - who shepherded her erstwhile brother Vrtra throughout Etheirys's history - now walks (and flies) among the children of Thavnair in a new form. This was necessary, however, for Lord Vrtra would sacrifice one of his own eyes to grant his sister a corporeal body, that she may witness the hard work her brother had done in her centuries-long absence.

In commemoration of this incredible event, the Higuri Regalia and White Wings (@lizardywizard) would reconvene to deliberate on a design to close off their fashion line, and after many moons, they would come to a decision: an armored robe, woven with, and forged in, the most exquisite Hannish fabrics and metals, dyed in the smaragdine and sanguine hues of the two rulers of Radz-at-Han.

The Dragonsong Robe is the final piece to close off this dedication to the First Brood - finishing at long last with Azdaja. Made exclusively with Thavnairian materials, this Near Eastern ensemble provides both form and function; protection and mobility. Despite sharing likenesses of Lord Vrtra, this was intended as Ser Dione Averre wanted for this attire to serve as a symbol of the loving bond shared between kin. The two scaled leather strips of Vanadinite wrap around the wearer's chest, whilst an additional assortment of silvery scales coil the rest of the body.

Honoring their shared past, the robe is further adorned with a single armored pauldron, modeled after Lady Azdaja's former visage as a great wyrm. A clawed hand grasps the wearer's other shoulder in a protective gesture - a reminder of the devotion these two share, and a promise of safety as the two watch over one another. Two orbs of "Gilded Giantsgall" line the cuffs of each sleeve, shaped like a dragon's eyes that further honor the sacrifice of Lord Vrtra to assure his sister's safe return.

The Diamond Sultan himself, Thiji Higuri, was chosen as the model for this penultimate garb, and has been dubbed an emissary of dragonkind for his service. Despite being seldom seen in any colors that aren't ice blue or silver-white (least of all, red), such trifles are unfounded as the Dragonsong Robe plays a greater role not only in the realm of high fashion, but in the continued relations of man and dragon. As such, he has considered this a proud addition to his wardrobe.

Midgardsormr, Great Father of Dragons, may rest easier now knowing that half of his beloved kin yet live. The Dragonsong Robe is no doubt a welcome and satisfying conclusion to this clothing line, for Radz-at-Han prospers once more. Pick one up today and be honored in the annals of Hannish fashion - and be safe knowing that you are watched over and loved!

(Credit and thanks to https://sapphrix.carrd.co/ for the creation of this masterpiece!)

#thiji higuri #higuri regalia #ffxiv #high fashion #fashion #ffxiv a realm reborn #lalafell #pib catalogue #ffxiv rp #haute couture #dragonsong war #dragonsong couture #thavnairian #radz at han #azdaja #6.5 spoilers #varshahn #final fantasy xiv #vrtra

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ctalimisadventures · 5 months

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Heavensward Ending Ramblings

This was everything I wanted after how post-ARR dropped the Beast Tribes towards the end. 🥺

The anger from both sides. The unwillingness to compromise. The hundreds of years of conflict. The irrational hatred that truth cannot reason out of.

The WoL didn't take part in much of the fighting, but got to hear all the stories from both sides. They find out the full truth of how the war actually started, and how it keeps going.

The church who benefited from the existing power structure, and staged a coup.

The tavern waitress who lost her husband to dragons, she cannot imagine peace. She knows the consequences will fall on commoners before the nobles.

Then the vengeful spirit of Nidhogg decides to ruin everything by coming in to do a stabby stabby.🥲

It was messy, it was a long road filled with roadblocks with minds of their own. It's a story about how years of hate doesn't go easily away, even if it would be better for all of us. It shows how irrational hate can be.

I love what Aymeric did to get Hraesvelgr on his side is to talk about what he had to done to get a treaty. How the WoL had to kill his father for trying to perpetuate the war. Everyone has lost people, but it can end today. Because we deserve better than to kill each other for another thousand years.

Aymeric is such a loveable bastard!🥰

I love this story!

#heavensward spoilers #ffxiv #Dragonsong War #Wren plays games

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ooeygooeyghoul · 9 months

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Introductions

Hi, hello, nice to meet you. I'm Quaid, and this is the tumblr I have recycled into posting content about my lizard man. This will primarily be a FFXIV blog, as it's my current obsession, wherein I will post rambles, pictures, my art, and maybe a few other things, idk. I'll try to keep it organized with the tags, but the system is a WIP.

I've only got my main man here at the moment, but maybe I'll make some more heroes in the future! Might update this a few times, too...

Other socials - Twitter | Insta

ENDWALKED! - NOT A SPOILER-FREE ZONE!

Shiun Kazumasa - Primal | Behemoth

Warrior of Light - Main

B A S I C S | |

Primary Jobs | Warrior, Gunbreaker & Dark Knight

Guardian | Rhalgr, The Destroyer

Nameday | 18th Sun of the 3rd Astral Moon (May 18th)

Age | 25 years [ARR] - 30 years [EW/DT]

Height | 230cm / 8ft 6in

Homeland | Doma, Yanxia

Occupation | Scion, Sellsword, Blacksmith

Sexuality | bisexual, leaning toward men

Strengths | duty-driven, good at anything that requires physical strength, protective, unbreakable will

Weaknesses | Quick-tempered, stubborn as a mule, emotionally constipated, never asks for help, hides his hurts

Tags | #primordial flame: shiun kazumasa (main), #thaniun (wolship), #forgiven fury (Lightwarden AU), #wandering swordsmith: vulcan (ancient counterpart)

P E R S O N A L I T Y | |

An Au Ra whose face is always scowling or smirking, never anything in between. Shiun is brash, rude, and loud - fueled by constant rage. He acts almost purely on instinct and impulse, which causes his friends no small amount of stress. Don't be fooled by his prickly attitude, he's a true hero with a heart of gold. Devoted to saving and serving as many people as he can to the point of being self-sacrificing. Good luck prying any of his deep emotions out of him, he'd really prefer that those stay hidden.

B A C K S T O R Y | |

Shiun grew up in Doma during the Garlean occupation, so his early life was full of troubles. His parents were quiet artisans that submitted, which afforded them a fairly upper-class lifestyle. But Shiun was different in a way they didn't like. He got into fights with other kids, ignored his schoolwork, and was angry at the injustices he saw all around him. His family did everything they could to extinguish the fire in his heart, but he wouldn't be put down any further. After a chance encounter with a resistance fighter, he fought back against a Garlean soldier that had been harassing people in his village. The Empire didn't take kindly to that, and his family suffered for it. He barely escaped and was forced into exile at the young age of 9. Eventually, he made his way to the Azim Steppe and was taken in by a kind family in the Malaguld Xaela tribe. Scarred by his failed attempt at resistance and the pain it caused, he kept his head down and stewed in his anger for years. That is, until a voice called him to a distant land...

R E L A T I O N S H I P S | |

Alphinaud & Alisaie | practically siblings

Shiun is fiercely protective of the twins. He sees a lot of his younger self in them and has taken on a brotherly role with them. He hates that they've been thrust into this world at such a young age, and tries to urge them to just be kids every once in a while.

Thancred | lover

At first, Shiun couldn't stand Thancred. His overconfident playboy persona really got on Shiun's nerves, so he went out of his way to piss off Thancred, too. After rescuing him from Lahabrea, he stopped being so antagonistic. Over the course of the Dragonsong war, Shiun's feelings towards Thancred began to change, which REALLY freaked him out. So much so, that he pretty much ignored Thancred's existence throughout Stormblood while he considered things. He figured it out pretty quick once the Scions started getting yoinked to another realm. More on this later...

Y'shtola | voice of reason

Shiun appreciates Y'shtola's sharp wit and sharper tongue. She sees right through his bullshit and is often scolding him for his reluctance to rely on others. They get into banter contests a lot, which he rarely ever wins.

Urianger | jock & nerd

When they first met, Shiun couldn't understand a word Urianger was saying, but he learned to communicate with him over the course of their adventures. He's got a good friendship going with Urianger, where he patiently explains complex things to Shiun five times and Shiun helps him get better at socializing.

Tataru | ride or die

Shiun would die for Tataru. She continues to baffle him with her limitless talent towards anything other than combat, and he'll do pretty much anything she asks him to. To be honest, her ability to sniff out the truth and love of gossip frightens him a little bit.

Estinien | friendly rivalry

Despite being an axe-user, Shiun's skill with the lance is nothing to sneeze at. The two talk through their sparring more than they do with their words. Shiun was happy when Estinien decided to stop skulking about and join the Scions, but he still gives him shit about it.

G'raha | brotherly friends

When he found out just how much G'raha idolized him, Shiun was flabbergasted. He certainly wasn't used to that amount of admiration, and he found it difficult to deal with at first. But the hesitation faded away as G'raha accompanied him on more and more outings. Now Shiun thinks of him as a brother and irreplaceable friend, determined to make him into a hero too.

T R I V I A & E X T R A S | |

Favorite non-chocobo mount is the SDS Fenrir.

Favorite minion is gaelikitten named Potato.

Has a major sweet tooth he tries to hide from others.

Is really really bad at cooking. Don't taste what he makes for your own safety.

Actually really does like to fight (don't tell Zenos).

I tend to draw him pretty off model lol.

#ffxiv #ff14 #au ra #ffxiv oc #final fantasy xiv #primordial flame: shiun kazumasa #ffxiv wol #blog intro #wol profile #I'll probably edit this a billion times #anyway here he is #pinned post

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irisopranta · 3 months

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The Flowers of Fate - Part Two: War Neverending

Part 1

There be Heavensward spoilers ahead. tw: Death, body horror

“Estinien!” She shouted at the now blooded dragoon. The two just defeated Nidhogg. The look on his face was manic. She needed to say something to him. “Please, calm down and give me the eye.”

He glazed over to her. “And why should I?” He growled, defensive over the eye that he plucked from the fallen wyrm.

“You damn well know what will happen if you keep this up. Let me take on the burden of the eye.” She reached out her hand cautiously, in hopes that he would give it up without fighting. He thought for a moment. He looked at the eye, then to his co azure dragoon. Sighing, he handed it over.

Iris was shocked that he did that. “I do not take pleasure that you now have to hold it. But if there is someone who could keep it in check, it would be you.” He gruffed at her. She put it away. Grateful at least that he understood her reason. It seemed odd however, normally he would insist on keeping the eye for himself. For him to carry that burden alone. Perhaps he was growing away from his cold, uncaring ways from their journey here. She sighed a sigh of relief.

“Well if all that sorted out we should tell Aymeric what has happened here. Tell him the truth of the Dragonsong War.” Her words were as cold as the Coerthas winter night that they had come used to of their journey. She turned her back towards the rest of the group. They followed suit, however, they were concern. Her demeanor was different somehow. The usual cheery seamstress turned dragoon seemed to have wrinkles on her face that resembled a growling dragon. They were unsure of what to do to make sure their friend and comrade was alright. However, they knew that time was of the essence and the group of elezen decided to teleport back to Ishgard.

As they arrived, they were greeted with both the temple knights and heretics fighting. Ysayle, seeing what has been going on in her absence, broke the news to the heretics. They lost the will to continue their fight. They all retreated. The temple knights relieved, celebrated their hollowed victory that the heretics weren’t wrecking havok in the Brume.

It was a moment later that Lord Haurchefant came running to the group, figuring what just happened and to make sure his beloved was safe. He greeted the four. He heard of the tale and their current plans to tell Aymeric. He told them that he will bring the lord commander to the manor and to wait for them. The Lord Commander hears the tale. The next thing the Fortemps and the the adventurers knew he was off to confront the archbishop, his father.

They waited. The tension was tense in the manor. Worry felled over. Edmont couldn’t take it anymore. “Mistress Iris and Ser Estinien, may I request you two to make tea for everyone? I think that would lift the dread in this air.”

“You think a simple cup of tea would make everything alright?” Iris snapped. Edmont was shocked. He found it strange that she would reject the idea of tea.

He gathered his thoughts before coughing “Well, I wouldn’t mind a cup if you wouldn’t mind humor an old man.” “Oh come Estinien. Let us humor a old man a bit.” She dragged the dragoon away for the task that he could only describe as torture. More timed passed. Tea was had. However, the tension never went away. A day passed by before the group knew what may had happened to the Lord Commander. Ultimately, they decided to storm the Vault.

They got the people of the Brume to revolt so they could sneak in. The guards tried fighting them off but the strength of the Warrior of Light was too much for them. They arrived to the air deck where Thordan was boarding their new airship.

This all seemed familiar to Iris. It felt like she just lived through these events recently. Mayhaps she read too many of those heroic tales. Where the hero makes it to the big bad guy for their final conflict. A voice called from behind her, breaking her thoughts. “Father,Please.” it was Ser Aymeric, limbing, surely from the torture that Thordan and the Heavensward gave him. Estinien and Lucia were not too far behind. “For a mercy, we were not too late.” the gruff voice of Estinien directed his words to Iris. She scoffed at him. “Should we be thankful for that while Thordan still stands?” “Why must you do this, Father?! Nidhogg is Fallen! There is no need for further deception! Now is the time to renounce the lies which led us down this path–to start anew!” Aymeric shouted at Thordan, hoping that his words could get through to him. “And tear down the very pillars of society–our history, our values–everything we have built over a thousand years?” Thordan sighed “A fool to the last.” He continued onward the airship. Knowing that if they didn’t act then he would get what he wanted. Haurchefant knew what Iris was thinking. The two sprang into action. Haurchefant took off first with her following him. They were focused on Thordan. Haurchefant notice there was a knight up upon the spires behind them. The knight produced a spear of light. It flew through the sky. At the blink of an eye He blocked the spear with his shield protecting his love. It’s power was too much and pieced the shield and its knight. Haurchefant fell. Blood coming out of him. Alphinaud tried to heal him but his wound was too much. He looked onto Iris, seeing the sadness in her eyes. “Oh, don’t look at me so. A smile better suits a hero.” His breathing stopped. Red filled her eyes. She couldn’t hear any words her comrades were saying. She felt a pulse from outside of her body and she heard a voice. “Vengeance!” It called out to her. Before she knew it her smooth, delicate skin became coursed with scales. Her mouth grew into a maw filled with jagged teeth. To her comrades, they saw that she transform to a dragon. Not just to any dragon, to Nidhogg. Nidhogg roared out before pursuing the airship with the archbishop and the Heavensward. It wasn’t a problem for the dragon, He was able to catch up in no time. As he did, he touched the airship while in the sky. It burned and crashed down near the Falcon’s Nest. Their were no survivors. With Iris’ revenge fullfilled, Nidhogg took full control of her body. No way to reverse the transformation. No way to take back control her body. Nidhogg was fully revived and had no intentions of ending the Dragonsong war. The Ishgardians tried to change their ways but Nidhogg saw best to make sure the war continued. Change couldn’t come to be. Death of their society was assured.

#oc: iris opranta #ffxiv #The Flowers of Fate #ffxiv heavensward #heavensward #heavensward spoilers

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worldformula · 8 months

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complicated relationship with Aymeric you say 👀 I would love to hear about it

also do you have a blank version or link to the blank version of that “characters who are just like my WOL fr” chart it intrigues ms greatly. I love that it’s specific about what exactly the inspiration from the characters is.

Here’s a link to the .psd because the framing layers makes it a bit hard to use as a regular png. Go nuts!

As for Aymeric…

Long story short, they never fostered an actual real relationship before just getting in the nitty gritty of intimacy because it is my religious belief that Aymeric is deeply repressed like a Catholic maiden and Utushama kept just leaving for MSQ immediately the day after they’d fool around. Utushama assumed they were on the same page (this wouldn’t work because they have conflicting responsibilities) (this is also kind of an excuse, he’s starting to develop a pattern of starting something, ditching ASAP, and then using MSQ as a noble excuse) but they weren’t really. I love to pretend Lucia is mad at him for this because it made Endwalker kind of funny. Usual spoiler warning for everything ahead!

Short story long, after the Dragonsong War’s end, they kept things entirely professional including their dinner and dealing w the aftermath of it all but were slowly (and I mean SLOWLY) building a tension between them like it was a Victorian period drama. Like, a show of ankle would give Aymeric a heart attack at this point. So they had two days of building up to this that no one in the world could’ve possibly guessed was any kind of build up to anything followed by one night of Halone-dishonoring acts (initiated by Utushama because why not. Why not hit and run the beautiful President of Dragon Catholics City after you saved them all. Especially after increasingly escalating moments of barely repressed interest). And immediately after, without explanation or any warning, Utushama left for MSQ, with the assumption that they were both in agreement that they couldn’t have an actual relationship because one of them loves their country more than anything else in the world and the other is a traveling adventurer. He didn’t say this because it was so obvious to him but Aymeric was obviously left a little confused and feeling slightly abandoned but bigger things at stake, y’know.

And then they meet again when Ala Mhigo is liberated because all the Eorzean Alliance leaders are there and Utushama is feeling very disoriented and bad because Zenos just killed himself in front of him, denying him of any closure to the distress he’s been feeling for all of Stormblood. And they are once again very professional as if they hadn’t explored each other’s bodies that one time. Aymeric invites him to dinner again and when the subject of trying to define their relationship is brought up, Utushama deflects by hitting him point-blank with the “ok, do you want to do that again” and Aymeric is flustered enough by this that despite being a very savvy politician, the Catholic maiden part of him overrides the many slightly orange flags. Once again, Utushama slips away without warning immediately after.

They don’t speak again until right after the Ghimlyt Dark, wherein canon provided me a lovely moment of quiet between the two of them. Utushama, being injured, is then unable to escape from this conversation that Aymeric begins, wherein Aymeric himself first confesses to hoping to be something more serious, to which Utushama answers in a manner that is between bafflement and regret that they weren’t ever going to be a thing (because again, he thought they were on the same page about this). Aymeric is sad but can see the logic in this and admits that Utushama deserves someone who cares more about him than their political responsibilities, who could and would follow him to the ends of the earth. (There is no reason for him to be so self-deprecating on the matter because it’s not as if he were the one at fault for this, but Utushama just has a way of making people feel bad for wanting reasonable things from him. It’s kind of cruel of him but he also is entirely unaware that he’s doing this.) This is a fun bit of foreshadowing for me personally because this could mean anyone but should the monkey’s paw curl, that sure does describe a certain horrible prince he despises. But after accidentally doing all that to Aymeric, maybe he does deserve to be tormented. Just a little. I’ve been following a sort of narrative path wherein anyone who likes Utushama for being a hero figure can’t actually get with him for good because they’re enabling his bad habits and it’s going to end badly.

Anyway, all this made the Endwalker casting quests very fun because they just kind of josh around lightly and even reference their old fling without it being a whole thing and it feels like the weight of whatever they were doing is off Aymeric now so he’s able to be confident and normal again. If they ever fool around again post-Endwalker, it’s noticeably different because Aymeric has moved past the whole blushing maiden for the hero role. Utushama is admittedly kind of. Strangely sad to see him move past him but by then knows that it was probably for the best. It’s just hard for him to even metaphorically feel like he’s the one being left behind. And Lucia is no longer mad at him but it’s really funny to let him keep thinking she is!

So yeah, his relationship with Aymeric is kind of tangled and convoluted and despite indulging once or twice, he doesn’t actually seem to like talking about it beyond whatever’s professional because he’s just very private. I’ve no idea what the general consensus is on Aymeric and Estinien’s relationship but I imagine it was much more straightforward than this. Utushama inadvertently projects and assumes it was just as complicated based on the way Estinien talks about Aymeric in MSQ tidbits but I think it’s funnier if it was actually relatively tame and Estinien is just being dramatic.

#ask #anonymous #ffxiv #I am constantly fighting for my life between ‘I ❤️ scumbag princely heroes’ and ‘hh;e DI;dn’t mmean to’#one thing I can always promise you is this: when it comes to my wol love will always lose #I had a dream I answered this ask with just an image of Aymeric as a soy marinated chicken?#anyway thank you ❤️ YAYYY

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my-name-duki · 9 days

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3,5,7,8,13,15,22,25 c:

Happy Headcanons

3. what is your muse’s favorite hobby?

Out of all the many, excessive hobbies Duki Nuki has accumulated... his favourite has gotta be goldsmithing. Making jewelery is his favourite comfort activity after a long day of gathering, adventuring, or hugely traumatic encounters!

5. what does self-care look like to your muse?

Self care, to Duki Nuki, is intentionally hanging out in lower-danger areas and helping out the occasional passer by, reminding himself of what it was like to be in their position.

7. what would your muse consider a perfect day?

That's a tough one... being with Furbi or Wulfric already makes his day pretty darn good! He probably recently experienced what he'd call a perfect day in taking a break from heroics and simply gathering and showing off to Furbi, and then having the chance to chat to him...

8. what does your muse love doing with other people?

Any time spent with another is time well spent for Duki! Even if they're doing completely different things or they're in their own zones, just having someone around to share the sights and sounds of the environment they're in makes Duki feel at peace.

13. what would your muse consider their best physical feature?

His sunglasses. Also his hair.

THE ANSWERS TO THESE NEXT QUESTIONS ARE ACTUALLY STORY SPOILERS! BREAK, DON'T PRESS THIS UNTIL YOU'VE GOTTEN THROUGH HEAVENSWARD!

15. what is something that’s made your muse so happy they’ve cried?

One of Duki's most distinct memories is at the climax of the Dragonsong War, in the final showdown against Nidhogg. When he saw that he was being aided in his most crucial moment by Haurchefant and Ysayle... Duki was, at the time, too overcome by a need to do his duty to Ishgard to really feel it out, but when he got to his bed that night... the floodgates were thrown wide, knowing that the two of them, who he so looked up to, were still with them in some form.

22. what does your muse consider the most beautiful place they’ve ever been?

Duki's been all around, and so far, he'd probably have to say Hingashi is the most beautiful place he's been to. There was just something about the colourful and lively architecture, and the way the sun dances on the water, that just struck him. That's why he was so motivated, immediately, to climb Hingashi tower - just to get a better view of the sea!

25. during difficult times, what is something your muse holds onto to get them through?

His House Fortemps shield, which he still uses in his Paladin kit, is definitely a go-to for him. Else than that... he'd probably have to say his old Anima weapon. It's a sign of achievement for him, of progress he never could have once imagined making, but the glow of the weapon reminds him that, despite everything, he did - and he had something amazing and beautiful to call his own for it!

#Headcanons;;#Heavensward spoilers;;#{ icb Duki's love language is parallel play... }

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last-flight-of-fancy · 2 months

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Four times Scions assume the nature of Hallima's relationships, and one time they are completely wrong.

Wol: Hallima, Au Ra he/they. Occasional vague references to other WoL's

Timeline: ARR to vaguely mid-EW. Explicit spoilers for ShB and Dark Knight HW quests.

rating: T (swearing, references to sex)

Pairings run the gamut from traditionally romantic to found family to queerplatonic to friends with benefits, inlcuding but not limited to:

WoL/Aymeric, Aymeric/Estinian, WoL/G'raha, WoL/Leofard (physical only), WoL/Estinian (estinian insists its companionably physical only but lbr he's Attached)

To say the entrance of what remained of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn into Ishgard had been a cold and miserable affair would be nothing short of an impressive understatement. Still reeling from the loss of their friends and on the run, even once they start to get their feet under them, ending the Dragonsong War and earning the respect of much of Ishgard’s historically xenophobic population, they generally had greater things on their minds than something as petty as romantic entanglements.

It was a missed opportunity of unfortunate timing, looking back. Haurchefaunt could not have been more obvious in his intent, but the recipient of them simply did not have the attention to spare for them. Something which Haurchefaunt seemed to understand at least, even if that does not quite soften the sting of grief and lost potential. All present were aware of them though, even if there wasn’t space to act on it, and it is generally quietly agreed upon to let such matters lie for a time.

Which is why Alphinaud is rendered entirely at a loss for words when Emmanellain takes him aside to inquire after exactly that.

“I beg your pardon?” He has to make sure he’s heard right.

“Our dear old boy has made quite a name for himself you know, it would be passing strange if no one at all has made any advances on him.” Emmanellain nods with confidence, as if this makes perfect sense. Perhaps to him it does. “And as House de Fortemps leading gossip monger t’would be remiss of me not get my news direct from the source. Or direct adjacent to it at least.”

“I rather think we have more important things to worry about, don’t you?” Alphinaud holds himself steady, despite desperately wishing there were a nearby window he could throw himself out of.

“Not at all!” Emmanellain says cheerfully. “The dalliances of the nobility have ever been the subject of much gossip and scrutiny, t’would not be an exaggeration to say it is an entire realm of politics within itself! And our dear mutual friend most certainly counts after all he has accomplished.”

Something niggles at the base of Alphinaud’s ear, and he’s learned to listen to his instincts in matters such as these.

“How much gil do you have riding on the answer?” He asks. Emmanellain ducks his head slightly at having been caught out, but barrels on despite the flush dusting his eartips.

“That’s of no matter, old boy, truly. Even if I did not I would be curious as a dear friend!” Emmanellain pauses then, lowering his voice. “There are rather more nasty rumours attached to those one’s too, of course.”

“Is that a threat?” Alphinaud glares, posture tensing sharply with the implication. He hadn’t expected such a thing from the youngest Fortemps son, but then he hadn’t expected it from the Crystal Braves either.

“What?” Emmanellain blinks, surprised. “No, not at all. I merely wished to hear the truth from the chocobo’s mouth. Second-hand. Mostly because our dear Warrior of Light is surprisingly difficult to get a hold of.”

This is not Alphinaud’s experience, who hardly has to utter a word before Hallima would be there ready to offer advice or support. He rather suspects this is on purpose.

“Fine.” Alphinaud heaves a heavy sigh. “What rumours?”

“Oh a great many, but most recent are some sightings of him in the Brume. It’s all a touch confused, but there’s something about other dragon men and a lovers quarrel.”

“Well there definitely wasn’t a lovers quarrel.” Alphinaud snorts. Such a thing would require a lover, first of all. “But he has been spending a lot of time in the Brume and Forgotten Knight, that much is true. I believe he has taken up a mentor in knighthood there.”

“Oh?” Emmanellain seems delighted by this. “Perhaps this does explain some of the rumours, and the rest are simply exaggerations for a salacious crowd. Is he truly taking up sword and shield like Haurchefaunt?”

Emmanellain seems so hopeful at the prospect of the Warrior following in his departed half-brother’s footsteps that Alphinaud hesitates to answer.

“I do not know for certain. I know only that he has taken up the sword and meets with his mentor whenever he has a spare moment.”

“I see, I see.” Emmanellain nods solemnly. “Perhaps that is where the tales of lover’s quarrels arise then. T’would not be the first nor the last coupling that sprung from the heightened passions of battle and the tight bond between mentor and disciple.”

“I sincerely doubt it.”

The truth was this.

Meeting Sidurgu is…. strange. Amongst other things.

Past the obvious fact that they share a heritage and beyond the fact that Hallima is resolutely ignoring that first fact for his own peace of mind, there is something about Sid that feels familiar in a way he can’t quite pinpoint.

Sid is rough and blunt and not always quick to catch on, but who cares deeply at heart beneath all the carefully crafted spikes and scales of his past. Rielle is small and quiet and still learning to unearth the firebrand wit and bullheaded stubbornness that her past tried so hard to bury. She reminds Hallima of Minfillia, were Minfillia an elezen girl of barely twelve summers and a parental unit who does not deserve a title so kind as ‘mother’.

But Sid reminds him of… someone. No one. He’s not sure.

It’s not Haurchefaunt. In fact Sidurgu couldn’t be more different from Haurchefaunt if he tried.

Maybe that’s it.

(It won't be for months yet that Hallima will meet another Auri adventurer, and weeks after that before they find their way to the Azim Steppe. Both of these things will bring answers and questions more in equal measure)

It’s obvious when they first meet that Sid and Rielle are both still grieving their lost friend, a friend that Hallima’s subconscious had stolen and appropriated in a way that thoroughly blurred the line between where Hallima began and Fray ended. Esteem slumbers now, curled deep within the Abyss unless needed, but to deny his existence is to deny simple reality. Many would have found that reality difficult to grapple with, but thankfully Sid is no stranger to the unorthodox ways the powers of a Dark Knight can manifest, and bears him no grudge for it.

Perhaps that’s why, despite Sidurgu by all rights being everything Hallima tends to gravitate to in a partner aesthetically- tall, elegantly beautiful, undeniably masculine- nothing ever quite arises between them. Perhaps he simply feels like he’s trodden upon Fray’s grave enough already.

Which in the end suits all of them just fine. Hallima doesn’t need that sort of attachment to swing by the Forgotten Knight just to share a drink and talk, or to be pulled outside by Rielle in order to engage in an impromptu snowball fight. They are brothers in arms, in the truest, purest sense of the phrase, united in the darkness of the Abyss.

Pain brought them together, and love makes them return.

(“Did you see the way he reacted?” Rielle asks, after Hallima has left and it is just her and Sid left in the Forgotten Knight.

“To what?” Sid glances at her, curious.

“Your story about the Orl.”

“What about it?”

“I’m not sure exactly… Almost like he was remembering it. Do you think something similar happened to him?”

Sid hums to himself, almost a growl in his throat, but not quite so menacing. It’s possible, no one seems to know much of the vaunted Warrior of Light’s past after all.

But there are certain things that… The warrior’s purely Gridanian accent, his obvious lack of knowledge for their shared history, the age wear on his scales that any Au Ra would have long since put a traditional balm on… Sid himself has lost much and more of his cultural identity since the family of his birth was torn so brutally from him, but he retains what scraps he can. Hallima on the other hand seems to know almost nothing. It wasn’t far fetched at all to think another tribe fleeing the Steppe may have met a fate similar to his own.

“Maybe…” Rielle bites her lip, unsure if she should continue. “Maybe you’re not the last Orl.”

“Don’t be stupid.” Sid snorts. “He’s not Xaela.”

But even to him the excuse is weak. He remembers there being at least two Raen amongst the Orl, either married or adopted into the family in the course of their escape from the Empire. There may have been more, but the memories are too fuzzy and distant now to be sure.

He does remember the day a new babe had been born into the family, though mostly for how he couldn’t ride in the cart that day and the next as a result, and his feet had hurt terribly by the end of it. His father had carried him when he could, but at ten summers Sid was quickly getting too big for such extended exertion, and could only do so for short periods.

He remembers sneaking into the cart in the dead of night to stick his tongue out at the sleeping babe and mother, childishly upset at being put out and wanting to vent his frustration. Both had slept on entirely unaware of him, and he’d left feeling foolish but calmed. He doesn’t remember what either of them looked like, shrouded by memory and darkness.

“I guess it must’ve just been that Echo that people talk about then.” Rielle says, and Sid doubts she’s completely bought his deflection but she lets him have it anyway.)

It was no secret amongst the Scions that Aymeric was courting the Warrior of Light, or at the very least attempting to. If the many letters and gifts did not give it away, then Alphinaud’s tales of the utterly besotted looks that Aymeric would give said Warrior certainly would.

The question was not whether Aymeric was attempting to court the Au Ra. It was whether his affections were reciprocated.

“Hallima is a bit… inscrutable in these matters.” Alphinaud admits as the group sits around a table in the Rising Stones.

“Mayhap he simply has no interest in them.” Y’shtola says, paying full attention to the conversation despite initial protestations at its silliness. “Some do not, after all.”

“Minfillia was like that, wasn’t she?” Alisaie asks, and Y’shtola nods.

“Aye, oft did she tell me that she could not imagine an individual love eclipsing her love for Eorzea as a whole.”

The pang of loss stings still, but there is comfort in discussing their lost leader in this casually fond way.

“Hallima’s not though.” Thancred shakes his head, arms crossed.

“How do you know?” Alphinaud tilts his head, genuinely confused. Thancred shrugs.

“I just do. I’ve got a sense for these things.”

“For all save thineself.” Urianger says just evenly enough to give lie to the dry humour beneath. Thancred flicks his fingers at him, but the action lacks any true annoyance.

“You better not have slept with him.” Alisaie warns, pointing a finger at him like a sword. Thancred puts his hands up defensively.

“Come now, what do you take me for? He’s not my type. You know, the feminine kind.”

Alphinaud fiddles with his cup intently, while Alisaie stares flatly at Thancred, and Urianger coughs under his breath. Y’shtola hides her expression in her tea.

“What?”

“None of this tells us if Hallima is aware of Aymeric’s advances.” Alphinaud taps his fingers to his cheek thoughtfully. “It’s possible he may have interest but simply does not know the intent behind the gestures.” This is a silly use of his intellect, but it’s nice to use it for something less serious once in a while. Like having a sweet after weeks of nothing but Archon Loaf.

He doesn’t actually mind Archon Loaf all that much, at least not compared to many, but he could still enjoy the sweet all the same.

“Well, if you ask me, and you should,” Tataru speaks up as she approaches the table, arms full of a large platter replete with snacks, “I don’t know if Hal knows the more noble courting gestures, but he definitely knows the language of longing looks and lingering touches.”

“And how do YOU know that?” Alisaie says, scandal in her tone. Alphinaud raises an eyebrow at her, surprised at her reactions. Usually he was the prudish one (in her words).

“I pay attention.” Tataru winks, passing the tray up to the table for all to reach.

“Well, we know he is not of any noble house.” Alphinaud says.

“Obviously.” Alisaie snorts. “If there was a noble house full of horned dragon people anywhere on this continent I think we would know about it.”

“Indeed.” Y’shtola idly rubs a finger along the rim of her cup. “It does make one wonder how he came to be in this part of the world. His kind are not a common sight beyond the far East.”

“Forsooth,” Urianger says quietly, unheard by all aside Y’shtola when the snack platter is nudged the wrong way and clatters loudly to the floor to the dismay of all. “I believe he dost not know.”

The truth was this.

Hallima has had less and few opportunities to explore things like relations and relationships in his largely brief time of being properly aware of them as a concept. Which is to say this is why he entirely missed Haurchefaunt’s intent until he lay dying in his arms, by which point it was, of course, much too late.

This event did prompt Hallima to pay more attention to these things however, and thus did in fact catch on to Aymeric’s gesture’s fairly quickly, with only a few stumbling blocks in the form of how Aymeric is also simply just… Like that. Particularly with Estinian. A fact which neither of them bring up until months later when Hallima stumbles into Ishgard looking more than a little haggard and exhausted besides.

“I feel as if it’s been an age and more since we had the chance to talk.” Aymeric says as he fills a pair of cups with a wine he has been saving for just such an occasion. “Even by letter, you are a difficult man to send mail to.”

An understatement if there ever was one. Hallima snorts and takes the offered cup, drinking long and deep before relaxing back into the too-plush chair with a sigh.

“Though by your countenance I surmise that your tales of late have not been entirely joyful.”

“You could say that.” Another understatement. Hallima doesn’t really want to talk about the way the Scions appear to be dropping like flies to some mysterious malady, or how much sleep they’ve been losing worrying about Alphinaud and his self-imposed mission to Garlemald. “Tell me about Ishgard. How the changes are coming.”

“As you wish.” Aymeric nods, and so he does. It’s nothing Hallima doesn’t already know really, having seen the fruits of his labours whilst travelling through the Brume and during his visits to Sid and Rielle. They let Aymeric’s voice wash over them, soft and smooth and a balm against so many other worries.

They don’t even realize they’ve dozed off until what must be much later, still sitting in the plush chair but now with a crick in their neck and a blanket draped carefully across them. Candlelight flickers beyond closed eyelids and the sound of a quill on parchment the only noise. They are still in Aymeric’s study, and apparently the man had no issue with a sleeping Au Ra occupying his spare furniture while he worked.

They rub the crust from their eyes with a wince, trying to gauge the time but all they can really gather is that it’s dark as pitch through the windows, which tells them only that it is somewhere between dinner and breakfast.

“Ah, you’re awake.” Aymeric looks up from his parchment with a smile. “Forgive my leaving you to your rest, but I thought you might need it.”

Hallima nods, but does not elaborate. They still don’t really want to talk about it.

“Sorry about that.” They say instead, attempting and failing to smother a jaw-cracking yawn.

“No need for that. If my friend needs to recoup his rest in my study then that is what he shall receive.”

“Is that what we are?”

Hallima blames their sleep addled state for the blunt slip of the tongue, but thankfully Aymeric seems neither surprised nor offended by it.

“First and foremost, yes, of course.” He says carefully, setting his quill down to give Hallima his full attention. “But if you mean in regard to the possibility of us being something else… Well, perhaps that is a conversation long overdue.”

Perhaps it is. It doesn’t still the nervous beat of Hallima’s heart. They nod.

“First before all else I must ask you; Hallima, is a relationship something you want?”

“… I don’t know if that’s something I can give.” They admit, wincing at the necessary honesty. “Even if I weren’t always pulled hither and yon I’ve never felt the call to stay in a single place for long.”

Aymeric’s smile is soft and he shakes his head.

“Nor would I expect you to, but that isn’t what I asked, my friend.”

“I…” There are so many things, so many reasons, they bottleneck in Hallima’s throat. “I’ve never…”

“Would it help, perhaps, if I made clear what it is I would beget from such a connection?”

Hallima nods. Aymeric stands then, moving around his desk and kneeling in front of them, his expression serious but not hard.

“I would have your company when you have time to give it. The chance to lavish you with affection and gifts and whatever you should wish for that you cannot attain yourself. I wish to give you a place you may always return to, whensoever you may want or need.”

Aymeric takes a breath, but he’s clearly not finished, and Hallima waits, heartbeat pounding in their ears.

“By that token I do not require what some may consider part and parcel of such a relationship, though I would welcome most all the same. I would not tie you down like a bird within a gilded cage, either physically or emotionally, nor do I require what most would consider the… consummation part of things.”

“You can just say sex.” Hallima says, feeling a touch light headed. Aymeric gives a small chuckle.

“Indelicately, yes. I would most certainly welcome it, but only at your own comfort. Which brings me to an important… Consideration, if we were to go through with such a partnership.”

Somehow this grounds Hallima, and they start to feel steady again. They are used to things being asked of them, but more than that they need this clarity.

“Which is?”

Aymeric takes a deep breath, for the first time looking a touch nervous himself, worrying a strip of fabric between two fingers in a subtle tell that Hallima only sees because they know to look for it.

“You are aware that Estinian and I are… close, yes?”

“Yes…?” Hallima tilts their head before realization hits them with the force of stampeding chocobo’s. “Oh.”

Aymeric’s smile becomes thin in the face of Hallima’s apparent shock, and it makes Hallima wonder how many of these conversations Aymeric has had where this was the point where things turned south.

“Indeed. To put it bluntly, Estinian and I have had our arrangement for a great many years now, and I will not abide jealousy or possessiveness where he is concerned. If this is not something you believe you can do I ask that you say so now, I will judge you not for it.”

Several things click into place in Hallima’s head and heart at once.

“You’ve been scorned for this before, haven’t you?” Is out of their mouth before they can think better of it, followed quickly by a wince and, “Wait, that’s- you don’t have to answer that. Sorry.”

“’Tis a natural curiosity.” Aymeric’s chuckle is sincere at least. “Aye, I have. Not all are suited to an arrangement like this, and many simply cannot fathom splitting romantic commitment twixt multiple partners. As stated, I judge them not for their natural inclinations, only regret in their poor reaction to anything different from their own.”

They’ve seen enough of Ishgard to know how rigidly the state adheres to the familiar, both for survival and comfort. Hallima can only imagine how carefully Aymeric had to tread with something that would have so easily invited scandal at best and accusations of heresy at worst.

Hallima may not have known such a thing was even possible a bell ago, but already it feels as natural as breathing to them.

“Doesn’t seem that strange to me.”

“Full glad am I for that, then.” Aymeric’s smile loses much of its tenseness. “I take it you are not opposed..?”

“Consider me fully in favour.”

Aymeric doesn’t get much more work done that night.

All things considered Tataru Taru manages to establish a solid network of gossip and information from her seat within the Forgotten Knight with astonishing speed. Such was the talent that she had recently discovered in herself, and one she was determined to put to full use. For the good of Eorzea of course.

Being as how the bulk of her experience lay in being tender to the Scion’s collective coinpurse, it thus made sense that she grew to know who was of like inclination in the area as well. So it was that when a hyur woman took her seat next to Tataru, Tataru was not at all surprised by it.

“Stacia.” She greets, barely looking up from her mug (watered down, but alcoholic enough to keep an appearance).

“Taru.” The Red Bill Pirate greets in turn, motioning to the bartender for a drink.

“I hear you’ve picked up an adventurer to help with your recent troubles.”

Tataru expects her to play coy, make her guess, but instead Stacia grins.

“That we did. And you’ll never guess who.”

Tataru feels like she can, actually.

“The bleeding’ saviour of Ishgard himself!”

Got it in one.

“Well well, lucky for you.” Tataru means that sincerely. “I’d say your problems are all but solved now.”

“Well, not quite yet, but it’s looking a damn sight better than it was before. Not to mention the Captain has taken such a shine to him, it’s right nice to see.”

Tataru squints up the pirate skeptically.

“We are talking about Leofard, right? The incorrigible flirt?”

“Oh he’ll flirt up one side and down the other, make no mistake.” Stacia nods. “But he don’t often mean it past a little fun. Wouldn’t surprise me none if he tried to talk Hallima into joining the crew full time.”

“He’s welcome to try.” Tataru snorts, taking a sip of her watered down beverage. Stacia chuckles.

“Aye, tis clear the Warrior’s heart is elsewhere, but even still. Even just making the offer means much from Leo.”

Tataru may not know the man herself, but she can imagine it well enough. Too bad for him, she rather doubted Hallima was the sort to be swayed by a pretty face.

The truth was this.

Hallima could definitely be swayed by a pretty face at least once.

(They part ways sated and on good terms with no strings attached. A night less about passion than about the feeling of safety without the burden of unresolved emotional baggage. Hallima has a standing invitation to come back anytime.)

It’s not that surprising when it’s Alisaie who confronts Estinian. Nor is it surprising that she does so alone, which tells Estinian that he is about to get an earful and a half from a child who stands less than half his height.

A bizarrely common occurrence since he had joined up with the scions, all told.

That said however, he has no intention of playing into whatever her hand is, so when she stands imperiously over him with arms crossed and glaring he responds by leaning back in his chair and staring right back.

She, predictably, hates this, and it’s not long before she cracks.

“What are your intentions with Hallima?”

Estinian blinks. Of all the things for her to take him to task for, he honestly hadn’t expected that one.

“What?”

“What. Are your intentions. With Hallima.” She repeats, as if he is a particularly slow and impetuous child.

“In what regard?” He waves a hand. “As a fellow scion? As Azure Dragoon? As brothers in arms against the end of all on this star?”

“As a-“ Alisaie flushes as red as her coat. “As a. Partner. Romantically.”

“None.” He answers frankly. Alisaie glares again.

“You had better not be lying to me. We’ve all seen you coming in and out of their room at all hours.”

“I am many things but I am not a liar.” Estinian huffs. “And what I, or the Warrior of Light for that matter, do on our own time is our own business I should think.”

“It is.” Alisaie admits, though it seems to cause her great pain to do so. “I just… Want to make sure they’re treated right. We all know how they tend to put all others above themself.”

Estinian feels himself smile a touch. This much is a fact, and he more than understands the protective instinct for a loved one; there are at least two bodies buried in the snows of Coerthas of some particularly unsavoury souls who had attempted to take advantage of Aymeric’s good nature and unorthodox relationship for blackmail purposes.

Aymeric doesn’t know of course, and Estinian is inclined to keep it that way.

He reaches out to put a hand atop Alisaie’s head gently.

“A noble cause.” He says. “And one I would likewise pledge myself to.”

Alisaie bats his hand away, trying and failing not to pout adorably at being treated like a child, but she seems mollified by his reaction at least.

“Well. Good then. Right.”

The truth was this.

Estinian and Hallima are assuredly not courting, though they do often commiserate on their mutual connection through Aymeric. This much was accurate.

They are also, and this Estinian entirely failed to mention to Alisaie, definitely fucking when time and energy permits.

Which isn’t that often all told, but such is the reality of being the hero’s of a star.

The truth is this.

Hallima has a type.

Tall, pretty, undeniably masculine.

G’raha Tia, by his own measure, fits none of these things particularly well. All things being a matter of perspective of course, he has long forced himself to be realistic where his personal hero was concerned.

Unfortunately he was not wrong to either. G’raha was masculine enough to be sure, but his is a boyish sort of charm, quite apart from the more measured and confident types he has seen Hallima drawn to time and again. The same could be said for his looks as well, G’raha considers himself to be rather middle of the road as far as aesthetic went, and while that did not bother him overmuch it did much to dampen his chances.

As for tall, well….

Every time he has to crane his head up to look the seven fulm Auri in their vibrant magenta eyes, G’raha knows he never really stood a chance.

Of course that would imply that he ever thought he had a chance before such preferences became clear, and that is nearly as laughable as said chances, but still. At a certain point it does feel a bit like the universe is laughing at his fool stubborn heart.

Not that any of this really matters of course. Even if G’raha had any plan for surviving past the hero’s return to the Source (he does not), all he truly wanted was to just.. Be there. By the Warrior’s side, adventuring and laughing and telling stories. What cruel irony of his own making it was that he cannot have even that, hidden beneath the Exarch’s mantle as he is.

But the Warrior will live. Hallima will live. And that is all that matters.

For both the star…

And for him.

(Hallima calls his name, and several hundred years of resigned determination crumbles like dust.)

The truth is actually this.

Hallima had a pretty good idea that he knew who the Exarch was from about…. week two. The only reason it took that long was because G’raha had glamoured himself quite thoroughly to hide his mi’quote traits, and obviously spent many years training himself to hide whatever other tells he could. Unfortunately for G’raha, Hallima had an uncanny ability to remember people, even amongst beast tribes that many had difficulty telling apart. It is probable that nothing short of a full fantasia transformation would have thrown them off for long, and the body dysphoria as a result of a transformation not fully wanted- as well as the rarity of the substance- just wasn’t worth it in the long run.

So yes, Hallima knew, and held their tongue about it. They didn’t know why G’raha was so intent on hiding his identity, whether to throw off some pursuer or perhaps had lost his memory or some other strange effect of Syrcus Tower, but Hallima had every intent of figuring it out before they went blabbing to all and sundry about it. Unfortunately whatever investigating they could do had to take place in between everything else, so it’s no surprise when they never really get anywhere with it.

In the end they run out of time, and as the Exarch steps forward in a blatantly fake attempt to play the villain, Hallima knows it’s now or never.

They call his name, his hood and glamours falling away, revealing his expression to them for the first time since the doors of the Crystal Tower had closed between them so very long ago.

He looks heartbroken.

Looking back, Hallima will realize this as a turning point, if a small one of many, but a significant one nonetheless. It starts to become clear just the kind of depth of emotion that G’raha harbours for them, and it’s… Intimidating. Something which almost rings absurd when it becomes clear that G’raha fully believes that he is far beneath the Warrior’s time or attention.

And yes, Hallima will be the first to admit that he has a Type. This much is most certainly true.

However, and this the perpetually self-doubting mi’quote had failed to take into account, it is not the only factor.

Did it mean that it took a bit longer for Hallima to notice said affections? Yes. Did it mean that Hallima had to spend a non-zero amount of time trying to figure out what they felt beyond pure physical inclination? Also yes. There was also the small matter of how G’raha had essentially been lying to them for months on end, and regardless of his understandable reasoning, that still stung a bit. Not enough to sour them, but it did add to the pile of complications Hallima needed to work through before their feelings could go anywhere.

All this was of course significantly stalled by the ever present threat of the Final Days and all that surrounded them, so it’s not until much, much later that Hallima finally gets to walk into Sharlyan and offer G’raha the one thing he wanted most of all.

“An adventure?” Red ears perk in surprise and excitement as Hallima talks various details with Krile. There is a long pause as he wrestles with his desire and his responsibilities, and then-

“Ohhh, go on, Raha.” Krile says with a laugh. “I can handle things here for a bit. Bring me back a good story, alright?”

Hallima finds himself grinning at the sheer, animated joy G’raha springs into with her permission, barely waiting long enough to put his books down before he’s out the door with a spring in his step and a shine in his eyes.

It’s this moment that Hallima wonders why they didn’t find him attractive before.

They wait a few days, taking the opportunity to finally spend some more low-stakes time together and get in some of that adventuring that G’raha has longed for. It’s the least he deserves after everything he’s given and sacrificed really. Hopping from place to place, solving mysteries and fighting monsters. It rings of a simpler time to both of them really.

It’s a beautiful night, the moon hanging full and bright in the sky, partial cloud cover and a lack of wind rendering the night temperate enough to make the campside fire almost unnecessary but for the kettle simmering just above the low flame.

G’raha pokes at the embers with a stick, sending a shiver of sparks into the air, a small smile on his face.

“A few more minutes, I should think.” He says.

“For your legendary hot chocolate recipe?”

“Did Lyna tell you that? Well, she may have over sold it a touch, and I am no culinarian, but I will admit that this one thing I can make to standard.”

“As long as it’s not sludge then it’s probably better than anything I could make.” Hallima says. “Seriously though, I’m sure it’ll be great, give yourself some credit.”

G’raha’s ear flicks, a pleased tell.

“I must thank you again, my friend. This trip has been nothing short of everything I had hoped for.”

“Good, I’m glad.” Hallima grins. “But we’re not done yet. We have at least another week or two before Krile will start expecting us back.”

“We had best make the most of it then.” G’raha meets Hallima’s gaze, relaxed and content in a way he rarely got to be, brilliant red hair lit to glowing in the dim firelight.

“That’s the plan.” Hallima leans back and closes his eyes, basking in the fire’s warmth and considering his next move.

And he would have to make the next move. Raha certainly wasn’t going to.

”Ah, I do believe it’s ready!” G’raha announces proudly as he lifts the kettle from its hook. Hallima waits patiently as G’raha sets about pouring the warmed milk into a pair of cups, adding a precise mix of chocolate and spices to them and stirring carefully.

“Thank you.” Hallima says when he’s offered his share, and the two sit quietly as they sip carefully on the drink.

“I was right. It’s delicious.” Hallima grins teasingly at G’raha, who tries to cover his flush with a cough, though the tilt of his ears betray him anyway.

“Very good. I wasn’t sure if it would be quite the same, as Aldgoat milk and what we used on the First is of a slightly different consistency and- ah. Anyway. I digress. I’m glad you like it.”

“Don’t stop yourself on my account.” Hallima chuckles. “I like listening to you ramble.”

“You say that now, but you’ll regret it by hour five.” G’raha warns, but his lips are turned upwards. “Even Krile tires of me after a long enough.”

“I suppose I will simply have to take a break by getting you some water. You must be parched after that long.”

“You tease, but truly there have been times where I could have kissed such a person for bringing such refreshments in the midst of a long lecture.”

“I’ll have to keep that in mind.” Hallima’s smirk does not lessen, and he rests his chin on the palm of his hand.

It takes G’raha a second to process that the intent of the tease is exactly what it sounds like, and from there he flusters adorably, ears flicking and eyes darting to and from Hallima several times in quick succession. His tail swishes wildly behind him.

“Ah, pray do not tease me so, I beg.”

“Hmm, I will try but the urge to make a dirty joke about begging is strong.”

G’raha groans and buries his face in his hands, embarrassed but not truly upset as far as Hallima can tell.

“Seriously though, G’raha.” Hallima leans forward. “I’m not blind, and even Y’shtola can see it. You’re one of the most stubbornly determined people I have ever met and that’s saying something, and yet…”

“What do you…?” G’raha lifts his head to look up at Hallima, confused. Hallima leans down until their noses are nearly touching.

“I know what you want.” He whispers. “Consider this your invitation to take it.”

G’raha stares wide-eyed up at Hallima, frozen.

“I- you-“

“Have I misread?” Hallima tilts his head just slightly, taking care not to accidentally catch G’raha with the tips of his horns with the movement. G’raha swallows audibly.

“No.” He finally finds his voice. “No, you have not. Forgive me, I did not expect…”

“Reciprocation?”

“Yes.”

“That’s my own fault, probably.” Hallima leans back again, sensing they will have to do some serious talking before getting anywhere. Fair enough. “In the First I wasn’t really… In the right mindset for that, and then the whole star was set to be wiped out and. Well. Needless to say I only just managed to spare Aymeric a visit last week, there just hasn’t been time.” And even in the brief moments there technically had been, such matters had been by necessity pushed far from the forefront of his mind.

“Speaking of Aymeric, are not you and he…?” G’raha fiddles with the bracers on his arms nervously. Hallima tilts his head again.

“You don’t know? I figured it would be common knowledge by now. To make a boring contract short and sweet, yes he knows and we are both free to bed and court who we will. Which is something you would have to be okay with.”

Hallima takes a sip of their rapidly cooling hot cocoa as he waits for G’raha to finish processing what he is being offered. It can be a lot to take in at once, he knows, but thankfully Hallima is nothing if not patient.

“You- Really?” G’raha seems to still be struggling.

“Am I really in an open relationship that you would have to be okay with being a part of if you and I were to court? Yes. Am I really open to the idea of courting you? Also Yes. Enthusiastically.”

G’raha laughs a little then, a surprised sort of sound.

“Forgive me, my friend, I have made a poor showing of myself and been nothing but tongue-tied. But if you truly do mean it-“

“And I do.”

“-Then I would accept.”

Hallima grins so hard his cheeks hurt.

“May I kiss you?”

“Please.”

Bonus:

“Ameliance have I mentioned lately that if you had even an shred of masculinity to you I would climb you like a tree?”

“T’would be a short climb for someone of your height, I’m afraid.” A laugh.

“Seriously though are you sure I can’t talk you into-“

“I am afraid not. Fourchenault may have his faults, but I do love him.”

“Okay but I have this mi’quote friend who would jump at the chance to court you properly. I’m just saying.”

“I shall take it under advisement.”

#HALLIMA FINALLY LOOKED AT G'RAHA #it is frankly absurd how long that took #anyway uhhhhhh i am not a romance writer despite how much ship fic i read #so hopefully this reads as only mildly awkward #this also ended up being way longer than i thought it would wtf #will i ever stop poking at Hallima's backstory? probably not #flight's making things again #fanfic #fanfiction #ff14 #ffxiv #final fantasy xiv #final fantasy 14

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iggyfing · 3 months

Text

untitled self-indulgent post-3.3/dragonsong war drabble. heavensward spoilers!

estinien pov. featuring one of my wols, laughing hare. not ship. they're best friends, your honor. they can be a little soft. as a treat.

abrupt ending bc i'm bad at them. estinien characterization may be a bit off bc i'm working with what i have (free trial story content). references events of a previous untitled drabble.

***

The beasts really shouldn’t have given him much trouble, but he was yet on the mend and out of practice. One had landed a heavy swat to his side, staggering him to a knee, winded but blessedly unclawed. He only just raised his lance in time to fend another who lunged at him with jaws gaping wide. The creature’s weight impaled its shoulder on the weapon as the shaft slid through his hands, ramming the butt into the ground beside him. The beast howled in pain and leapt back, dragging lance and wielder with it to send him sprawling. The others circled as he scrambled to his feet, wary now that he’d drawn first blood. He cursed himself for a fool, for straying too far from the roads in search of solace and respite.

Just then a great destrier chocobo landed heavily in front of him, wings flared and head low as its rider dismounted and hefted a broadsword easily as tall as she was. With a roar and flourish, she set upon the beasts with fierce and unsettling fury.

It was the roegadyn, one of those warriors of light who had prised him from Nidhogg’s grasp despite his pleading. Laughing Hare, who had nearly taken his place as the dread wyrm’s vessel. She brandished the darkness again, as she had in the wake of Haurchefant’s death. The creatures all fell upon her with an equal fury but found themselves no match and soon all lay dead around her.

Fatigue took him suddenly, and he leaned heavily on his lance as he lowered himself to a knee.

She turned to him then, with that strange, half-mad look in her eyes as he’d learned to mark of her on their journey to Zenith, and stalked toward him with teeth bared in what might be a grin. He regretted letting his guard down but could not summon the strength to rise.

“Estinien!” she bellowed even as she reached him. She raised her sword and struck downwards, burying it a fair half-fulm in the ground before squatting down in front of him. “Why did you leave?”

His gaze traced the branching scars from her cheek to jaw to neck and collarbone where they vanished under her armor. The mark of her reckless folly. He looked away with a scoff. “Why did you come after me?”

“I didn’t want you to leave.”

“…There’s no more place in Ishgard for me.”

“Ha! You lived for your city! They’d have to be fools to cast aside her staunchest defender.”

“I lived for the war. In the end I defended nothing. My own weakness resurrected her fiercest enemy.”

She turned her face from him then. “…It was not only your weakness,” she said at length with ungainly stiffness of tone. “Kuzhuk had warned us of you and the eye. I did not listen. And I did not act.”

Silence fell. There was no response he could make. The half of him wished to shun her admission even as the other called for his absolution. But he had looked upon himself too closely to accept the latter, and to heed the former would be to consign himself to a festering pit of selfish loathing.

They were the both of them guilty.

She leaned forward onto her knees and hooked an arm round the back of his neck, pulling him into an embrace. “I am glad you’re alive.”

The shock of it froze him, all thoughts grinding to sudden halt. Something in him snapped. What he might once have called courage or fortitude, such qualities second to vengeance round which he had bent himself, after which he’d striven all his life, forsook him wholly. He returned to himself to find his body shaking, trembling like the wretched orphan child that yet dwelt in his heart.

His arms raised seeming of their own mind and wrapped round Hare, returning the embrace. He found she, too, was trembling, and the whole situation turned suddenly surreal and nearly sacrilegious. To hold and be held by one of the Warriors of Light as they both quailed from some unidentifiable sentiment. Though what cared he for sacrilege, he who had traveled with the chieftess of heretics and parleyed with dragons and stood by as the archbishop was slain? He who had himself become dragon? Even still, the conviction nagged. He shouldn’t be here, like this, doing this — but no sooner had the thought crossed his mind than she tightened her hold, to which he thoughtlessly responded in kind.

Long did they rest like that, until at last the snarls of more creatures coming to stake a claim to the territory roused them both to action. Wordlessly they parted and Hare raised herself on her sword even as he did on his lance. She slung her weapon on her back and mounted her chocobo before reaching down a hand. He hesitated only briefly before taking it. Once mounted, she spurred the bird to flight, only stopping once they were high enough to be beyond the beasts’ range.

“So,” she said, all solemnity and sobriety of the past minutes falling away, “where are we headed?”

“Tailfeather, I suppose,” he answered after a moment’s thought. Though he was reluctant to endure the company of so many others, he was yet unfit to make camp on his own. And the thought of begging shelter of the dragons of Anyx Trine was… unendurable.

She gave a nod and hummed in affirmation before turning the chocobo to the south and setting it off.

They flew in silence for several minutes. As they neared the hunting village, the sun hung low on the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the land.

“Thank you,” he muttered.

She only flashed a grin and laughed her hearty laugh, which struck him with an inexplicable stab of shame.

“Once we arrive, I shall burden you no longer,” he added quickly.

Now she turned to him with a queer expression, seeming equal parts confusion and mischief. “I came to bring you back to Ishgard. But since you will not return, I would go with you.”

#ffxiv #heavensward #estinien #wol #ffxiv oc #heavensward spoilers #myfic #oc talk #laughing hare #hw #hw spoilers

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desertleviathan · 10 months

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All right FFXIV Tumblr, I need a little help.

Warning, Dragon-related spoilers spread across the MSQ for pretty much the entire game and all expansions!

My character's main job is Dragoon and I'm decorating my house with a theme surrounding that job, including a lot of Dragon-related stuff. In fact, the location is called "NIDHOPPS", Ishgard's first and only Craft Brewery/Dragonsong War Museum, with such memorabilia as I can find for all the First Brood.

I'm working on the Orchestrion choices. I have 8 slots, and here are my thoughts on how to use them.

1.) "Primogenitor" - The boss music for Midgardsrormr in Keeper of the Lake and in Alphascape 2.0. And now that I take the time to check, also apparently for the first time we fight Nidghogg in the Aery, and the fight with Hraesvelgr in Sohr Khai! Although the rest of these are chronological in terms of in-game appearance, I put this one before the next one to reflect Midgardsormr's place in the family.

2.) "Answers" - The music for the End of an Era cutscene where Bahamut was revealed. There are a few Bahamut-related choices, but this is the most dramatic.

3.) "Roar of the Wyrm" - The theme from the Aery, where we first face Nidhogg directly. This isn't actually what plays during the boss fight though, so its place on the list is most tentative.

4.) "Apologies" - The theme from Sohr Kai, where Hraesvelgr tests our mettle before we face Nidhogg again. Like Roar of the Wyrm, the actual boss fight music is actually Primogenitor though.

5.) "Revenge of the Horde" - From the Final Steps of Faith, Part 1, where we vanquish Nidhogg. This being an Ishgardian residence, I feel like the antagonist of the Dragonsong War deserves extra prominence.

6.) "Freefall" - From the Final Steps of Faith, Part 2.

7.) "Seven Flames" - From Paglth'an, where we fought along Tiamat's side to reach and slay Lunar Bahamut.

8.) "As The Sky Burns" - From Vanaspati. I'm hesitant because I'd rather enshrine Vrtra in glory than grief, but no moment in the game highlights his nature better than when he's begging you to show mercy to the Blasphemies because they're still Children of Thavnair.

Missing - Azdaja and Ratatoskr don't have tracks on this list. The former because all the music that plays around her is more about her circumstances and her captor than about her personally, and the latter because she's a conspicuous absence in the story, and Nidhogg's rage is the primary memento we have of her.

I also thought about putting Shinryu on this list, because I love "The Worm's Tail" and "The Worm's Head" from the Royal Menagerie trial. But I wouldn't have put one on the list unless I had room for both, and as a weird sort of footnote to the First Brood I didn't think Shinryu deserved multiple slots like Nidhogg does.

Anyway, does this sound about right, or does anyone have suggestions of tracks that would fit better, or would make sense for the two missing First Brood? As important as Nidhogg is, 8 tracks for 8 Dragons seems like it's meant to be, you know?

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cidnangarlond · 8 months

Text

ffxiv spoilers under the cut btw

when it gets pointed out to you that "hey hydaelyn hasn't talked to you in awhile yeah" and you say she hasn't talked to me since the dragonsong war I was like YEAH HEY WAIT A MINUTE

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starsandauras · 8 months

Text

Prompt 10: Recap

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 10: Recap (Extra Credit/Free Day) Broad strokes spoilers for all of Heavensward? Do we still warn for that?

Connor sighed and heavily dropped down onto a particularly flat bit of crystal next to the doors of the Crystal Tower. “Sorry, I know I’ve been gone awhile,” he murmured, looking down at his feet. He was still in his dark knight armor. Last time he’d sat here, he’d been wearing the armor of a paladin.

Another sigh, and he looked up, rubbing at the back of his neck. “So, where did I leave off? Right before the Banquet, right?” He looked up at the silent spire, wilting slightly, before launching into the story.

Of the Banquet, of hiding with Haurchefant, of integrating themselves into Ishgardian society. Of Iceheart, of the journey through Dravania, of the moogles. Of learning the real history of the Dragonsong War, of Haurchefant’s loss, of Ysayle’s. Of dragons and dragoons, of floating landmasses and Garleans. Of Warriors of Darkness, of Minfilia’s loss, of the recovery of Estinien, only for him to jump out a window the moment he could.

“There’s no telling where the man is now, and I think he prefers it that way,” Connor finished his story, finally, taking a long drink of the flask at his belt. “What else… oh, I didn’t mention it, did I?” He smiled weakly, lifting the flask and tapping it against the Tower in a mock toast. “I’m an uncle now. Bet you never thought you’d hear that, right G’raha? We call him Cred, his proper name’s a mouthful.” He sighed, taking another pull of his flask. “You’d like him,” he murmured. “He’s a good kid, even as young as he is. Better than a lot of us deserve.”

The Tower remained silent, not even echoing Connor’s words back to him. While he was unsurprised, he was still disappointed.

“I’m not a paladin anymore,” he offered up next. “Didn’t suit, after Ul’dah. And I blended into the snow too much in Ishgard. Or at least that’s what I told my family. No idea if they bought it, don’t care much either. I’m something called a dark knight now. Don’t- don’t ask for that story, it’s a mess. But…” another sigh. “I think I made friends? Sidurgu and Rielle. I don’t know, I’ve never been too sure how friends work, other than you.”

A bird let out a call, but otherwise the silence remained.

“They’re good people though, if nothing else.” Connor pulled his lower lip between his teeth, worrying it as he thought. “Oh, Rammbroes lent me a couple of your books,” he added, holding one up. “Still not much of a reader, but he thought I might like them, and… well, why not give them a try? One of them’s a book of fairy stories, thought I’d start with it first.”

He was examining the book when his linkpearl went off, and he grumbled to himself as he pressed his fingers to it. “What?!” he demanded through grit teeth. “I told you not to bother me for two bells!”

“It’s been three, actually,” came the crisp tones of Arthur’s voice, and Connor wilted again, even though Arthur couldn’t see it. “Come back to the Stones, we have meetings tomorrow.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” he grumbled, pushing himself back up with a groan. “See you soon.” And without waiting for Arthur’s response, he deactivated the ‘pearl. “Arthur called, he’s wanting me home. We had a samurai show up on our doorstep at the Waking Sands and nearly fall on Urianger earlier today. We have to deal with that in the morning. I’ll come back, let you know how it goes.” He shrugged. “Miss you,” he whispered.

He hoped he could hear a “see you soon,” carried on the wind, but he knew it was simply the sound of it blowing through the crystalline trees.

#FFXIV #FFXIVWrite #FFXIVWrite2023 #Warrior of Light: Connor O'Donnell #he's having a bad time

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yloiseconeillants · 2 years

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🧥 to see my muse in their favourite coat

high allagan coat of healing for scion business leading to stormblood???

#the dragonsong war #hw spoilers #yloise coneillants

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janzoo · 11 months

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How does your OC feel about each member of the polycule?

(Original meme) Thanks for the prompt! And also your patience. ^^; When I first received this, I thought, "Oh I haven't delved into this topic yet so this will require some thinking, I'll set it aside and do it later." And thus later is now, whoops. I found it easier to answer in-character, so here we go -

(Mild spoilers for Heavensward and Endwalker)

Drakyr on Aymeric:

"Gods, where do I even start?" she begins, cheeks pinched in a wide, bright smile. "There's a...balance to him. He's refined and poised, while still warm and sincere. He's confident and intelligent, while still humble and considerate. Life as a politician hasn't dulled his compassion."

"During that ill-fated dinner, when he asked me what I want for myself...he was the first person to ask me that since I became the Warrior of Light. It had been far too long since someone else seemed to truly see me. And I don't doubt that if I'd gotten to tell him my wants for life, he would've hoped I'd get them."

"Sure, he does work much too hard. I think sometimes that even now, he feels as though he needs to prove himself worthy of his own life," she adds with a little shrug. "But nobody is perfect, not even Ser Aymeric de Borel. I but try to assure him that he's already more than worthy in my eyes and my heart."

Drakyr on Estinien:

"Oh, I adore Estinien's simplicity and frankness. After spending so much time around lofty scholarly types, there's something refreshing about getting a straightforward answer. Don't get me wrong - I don't think Estinien is less intelligent. I just feel that his intelligence is more grounded and practical."

She pauses, a hand coming to her chest as her expression turns bittersweet. "After the end of the Dragonsong War, I wasn't sure what to expect of him. He's been through so much. A lifetime spent driven by hatred and revenge will leave its mark. But the more we caught up after I returned from the First, the more I saw what Hydaelyn pointed out in the Aitiascope: that without the shackles of vengeance, Estinien had an incredible heart, brimming with love. Like a forest grown anew after a wildfire."

"I think I saw some of myself in that," she adds. "After the death of my tribe in the Calamity, and the ordeals on the First, I felt as though the two of us had gone through some kind of healing together. I don't know how to describe it otherwise. Our hearts just seem to know each other."

Drakyr on both of them:

"Despite their differences, I trust the two of them see me for me, regardless of my status or reputation, or what have you. We are sanctuaries to one another."

"I did fall in love with Aymeric first. We all know that. I don't know when I fell in love with Estinien too, just that the love is there now." She pauses and smiles, holding her arms out. "And that I'm glad for it. Besides, I've got two hands for a reason!"

#meme response #my wol #oc: drakyr saovine #my ocs #drakstimeric #oc: drakyr ssaovine (lore)#oc: drakyr saovine (relationships)

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