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Cherry Blossom Full Moon, Japan

szunayuki

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manaka bullying @naejlas-axe's lejo

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*puts my hand on your shoulder* listen. I DID mean to make you upset and i DO think your opinions are shit

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FC Prompt :: First Love (OLD - 2020)

in which manaka's first love is...not what one expected, though should have, all things considered...

word count: 307

«C’mon, Manaka… You could at least humor me. Even if you said that you never loved someone or something, I’d believe it!»

“Shh!” The smaller Au Ra woman glared behind her to the younger Raen, pausing only momentarily in their trek up the mountain side trail. She would begin again, holding onto the side as she and the other strode their way to the top.

«Fine…don’t tell me…» the Raen man said, defeat clear in his voice as he followed along after her. He looked briefly to the side. It had really been a gorgeous view of the valleys of Othard. This was certainly not a sight he or Manaka would have ever been able to see were they to stay in their home village, that was for sure.

The walk up to the shrine took what felt like ages to the man, but Manaka looked as if she were just fine. However, it seemed that Manaka was not there to pray nor pay any respects to the kami… No, she had instead sat herself on the bench that was up on the clearing as well, her back turned to both the man and the shrine. Her gaze was settled out on the landscape below.

Clouds gently drifted across some of the neighboring mountains, caressing them softly as the winds brought them whichever direction they so chose. The valleys below were verdant, a single village visible from where the lookout point was. Two rivers snaked their way across the landscape, almost reminiscent of a sumi-e painting from a master at the craft.

«It’s…it’s beautiful up here,» the man said, his brow raised as his expression was filled with awe.

«Yes. It certainly is, Tatsuo...» was the simple reply from Manaka.

At that moment, the Raen finally understood that this was the answer to his question.

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SMN x RPR

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"... It seems these horse shites have decided they're ample enough aether for you."

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the sound of moving water is the best thing in the world. rain falling, waves crashing, fountains tinkling, streams gurgling, a lake lapping, cascades crashing, springs burbling...it's all so beautiful.

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Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run

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FFXIV Write 2024 :: Day Five

Prompt: Stamp Characters: Nomin tal Kheeriin, Manaka Shimizu (unnamed), Jaydin Byrd (unnamed) Word Count: 606

As soon as the doors to the establishment known as the ‘Starry Garden’ were pushed open, Nomin felt that rush of warmth envelop her. The crackle of fire beckoned as a comfort that warmed the entire lounge of the venue, the smell of cooking food and baked goods beckoned her in further. As she walked further in, the knob of the door slipped from her fingers, the door slowly clicking shut behind her.

Ishgard was no more now that Nomin was fully within the venue. The floors were tidy, the rugs only holding the barest tinge of dirt from the outside. A gentle bubbling of chatter filled the air -- patrons who were seated to partake of a warm meal or dessert, or those who took refuge from the cold sitting on sofa cushions, sometimes nursing a warm cup.

What drew Nomin in further was the fact that there was another like her, standing behind the counter. Though not marked with scales dark as pitch, she was no less a cousin from that of the Raen. Her skin was as fair as her scales, making them seem like they almost blended right into one another…save for those little hints of opalescent glints when the lights caught her scales and horns just right.

“Well don’t just stand there. You here for a meal, a drink, some refuge?” The Raen’s tone was sharp -- almost as sharp as her piercing gaze.

“S-Sorry…” Nomin started, her surprise slowly wearing off. “I’ve…never been to this part of Ishgard before. I-I mean…I know the, um…the rebuilding stuff…happened. I, uh…”

It was just so…startling in a way to see an au ra such as herself working a job here in Ishgard. Had Nomin been here just a handful of summers ago, the very idea would have had the employer branded as a heretic and most likely slandered.

“Don’t mind her,” came a gentle voice from the other side of Nomin. Another one of the workers was walking by, donning the green apron and holding an empty serving tray. A hyuran woman with her brown hair tied back into a ponytail, and who had the cadence of someone from Ul’dah. “She’s bad at smalltalk.”

“Surely she’s just doing her job…” Nomin replied as the hyuran woman walked past the gate that separated the back of the counter from the rest of the venue and placed the empty tray into a rack with other similar trays. “B-But, um…sorry, I’ve not been back to Ishgard in some time. I was taken aback by…”

Nomin’s gaze went back to the Raen for but a moment, and she then cleared her throat.

“Apologies. It appears there are some things I’m simply glad for,” Nomin concluded.

“I hope one of those things happens to be something we can provide you with?” the hyuran woman pressed, a pleasant smile on her face. A look of remembrance flickered on her face, and she then leaned down. Nomin could hear a drawer being opened and then shut before the hyuran woman slid a card over top and then took a woodblock stamp. Ink was applied from one of the inkwells next to a guestbook, and the stamp was then pressed onto the card before being handed over to Nomin.

“What’s this?” Nomin asked, reaching for the stamped card and looking down at it.

“Something we’re trying out. It doesn’t expire, so hang onto it. Once you have eight stamps on there, you’ll get a drink and dessert on the house,” the hyuran woman cheerfully said, hands going onto her hips. “Essentially, it’s our thanks for being a continued patron of the Starry Garden!”

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Fuyu no Hana

link to striped kimono mod found here

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Despite having moved into a new house, Elika and her roommate Manaka, have never really bothered to enjoy the amenities that often. This would be their first photos using their own private onsen.

Thank you to @primamchorus for letting me use Manaka in this photo.

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Fuck you for giving up on me

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I demolish my bridges behind me- then there is no choice but to move forward.

Fridtjof Nansen

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🌊