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honestly i kinda wanna just use this account to go on long rants as to why i think ishikawa is a terrible lead writer but i feel like if i do i'm just gonna get death threats in my inbox again because everyone blindly praises her just because the msq made them cry

i feel like this fandom is especially toxic to opinions that don't match the mainstream, a lot of fandoms have this problem but it's especially bad in xiv

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"men always lie" yeah, lie on their back and hold their legs up and moan

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since my tumblr is dead and hopefully no one ever reads it anymore, i just really wanna say i really fucking hate g'raha tia from final fantasy xiv

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The Growth of Artoirel (One of the Most Underrated Characters in FFXIV)

It’s the end of the world, and Ishgard is preparing for battle.  Yet where do we find Artoirel?

At his younger brother’s memorial.

Lacking Emmanellain’s comedy or Edmont’s sage guidance, Artoirel is often pushed to the side in terms of popularity, now seen more as a sidekick to Aymeric in keeping Ishgard’s affairs in order with the occasional background appearance.  And with a lack of exciting or distinct personality traits, he’s easily forgotten, lost in a sea of NPC faces.

And yet, this simple scene, even at only a few seconds, reminds us just how strong of a character - and future potential - Artoirel has.

His whole life had been spent ignoring Haurchefant - looking down upon him, and probably even bullying him to a certain extent.  Grant it, it was out of loyalty to his mother, but Artoirel had been programmed since Haurchefant’s birth to despise his half-brother.

A protector by nature, Artoirel probably thought he was guarding his mother’s name and honor by shoving Haurchefant out of his life.  And when Edmont tried to bring Haurchefant in, Artoirel accepted it, but only outwardly for appearances’ sake.  How could this son of the other woman be anything worthwhile?  Artoirel probably thought.  He’s not a true Fortemps, but a mistake.

This secret disdain remained with him all the way until Heavensward when the Warrior of Light arrived.  And when Artoirel began to notice that Haurchefant was on to something with this strange outsider, and that Haurchefant himself had grown rather attached to them, Artoirel probably felt some sort of relief.  Good.  Let the hero deal with my half-brother.  I can focus on taking care of the family and Haurchefant can move on with this new person.

But then the unexpected happened.  Haurchefant was killed, giving his life for an outsider.

Remember what Artoirel said to the Warrior after giving them the Fortemps shield?  “You were like a brother/sister to him.  Will you now be one to me?” 

A line that was perfectly timed, coming right after Edmont’s admission of viewing Aymeric as a son, like Haurchefant.  We see in that scene an angry Artoirel, following his father in a seething silence, wondering if he was jealous of Aymeric.  

But maybe the anger wasn’t directed at Edmont or Aymeric.  Maybe it was directed at Artoirel himself.

In essence, asking the WoL to be like a sibling to him was Artoirel’s way of telling the Warrior, “I should’ve been there for my brother, but I wasn’t.  I was blind to his goodness and honor.  You were there for him, though.  Believed in him.  Loved him as he was.  You were everything that I was supposed to be, and I need to change.  Can you help me?”

This is the moment where the guilt finally hits Artoirel.  He realizes he failed as Haurchefant’s brother.

Notice, now, who Artoirel is near?  Aymeric.  Aymeric is the new Haurchefant, at least in Edmont’s eyes.  And Artoirel is bound and determined to not let history repeat itself.  He remains at Aymeric’s side as often as possible, whether in politics or on the battlefield.

And so, we are left with that scene in Endwalker.  A few seconds long, but still just as powerful.  The world is facing destruction and unending despair, but who does Artoirel go to when he needs to find hope and strength?

Haurchefant.  

I’m not sure what words were spoken as the game leaves it to our imagination, but I wonder if it was an apology for all the words left unspoken.

“Maybe you’d be alive today if I was at your side.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t protect you like I should’ve.”

“I wish I took the chance to know you like the Warrior of Light did.”

“I promise, I’ll hold on to hope.  It’s what you would’ve done, after all.”

A growing bond between brothers, even after death.  I can’t help but feel Haurchefant would be proud.

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I saw a post here that touched on Dion parallels with Aymeric and let me tell you how my brain aligned them for all of ff16 I think it was because of their overall color themes but I saw Dion as Zephirin but following his shattered heart and making amends for what he did when tempered

and Barnabas as Aymeric but following with his father's plan instead, maybe assuming the throne as Thordan VIII

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If it is folly to hope, I am content to die a fool.

-Aymeric de Borel

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Sorrow

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Hades

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FFXIV AU where everything is the same except the Carpenter’s Guild is IKEA and Beatin is a swede named Bengt.

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everyone shut the fuck up. wurmple sippy soup

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hey um i’ve got some bad news. we mulled your boyfriend. he fell in the wine and we mulled him. yeah with the cinnamon sticks.

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this is the absolute funniest thing i’ve ever seen and i keep imagining org xiii in it:

0:00 - Xemnas texting Roxas

0:10 - Xigbar

0:22 - Marluxia

0:31 - Vexen and Zexion

0:38 - Xigbar obviously (Xemnas walking in)

0:47 - Axel

0:53 - Larxene

0:58 - Xemnas

1:07 - Demyx

1:16 - Saix

1:20 - Xigbar

1:24 - Zexion (with Xemnas dying in the background and Vexen saving him)

1:45 - Marluxia

1:53 - Luxord

2:02 - Marluxia again

2:05 - Xaldin and this is his only TikTok

2:13 - Xigbar’s back

2:22 - Xion

2:29 - LARXENE

2:36 - either Axel and Roxas or just Axel

2:42 - Lexaeus

2:49 - Saix

2:57 - Marluxia

3:07 - Axel

3:14 - Xion heckling Axel

3:26 - Xemnas

3:37 - Larxene and Demyx

3:46 - Demyx

3:49 - Vexen and Zexion (Xemnas in bed)

part 2 soon

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this is 100% Xigbar energy

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i have my own headcanons because i’m a dork

Xemnas - usually only likes quiet music, like impressionistic piano music by debussy. sometimes when he’s angry he listens to wagner. totally has a bunch of those 19th century villain playlists.

Xigbar - the personification of everything glam metal. actually he loves most kinds of hard rock and heavy metal, like iron maiden, judas priest, def leppard, wasp, etc. he loves hair metal a little too much, especially songs about fucking. and yes he does fuck to 80s metal. he’s the kind of person who appreciates ride the lightning but unironically prefers the black album because it gets him hyped. recently he’s been expanding his palate because his girlfriend is into more extreme metal and has gotten him to listen to dark tranquillity which is her favorite band

Xaldin - also listens to classical piano music, but is secretly a huge Celine Dion fan. i could see him playing the piano.

Vexen - him pretending to like classical but secretly being a huge country fan is the funniest shit i’ve ever read so headcanon accepted

Lexaeus - no one really knows what he listens to because he only likes to listen to music when he’s alone, but he’s open to anything.

Zexion - look at his hair and tell me he doesn’t listen to 2000s pop punk and emo music like mcr and panic at the disco

Saix - likes classical, but really likes power metal, especially during the full moon. obviously sonata arctica and moonspell are among his favorite bands. he normally hates going to metal shows but during the full moon he’ll be in the mosh pit.

Axel - huge david bowie fan. appreciates a lot of artists by their visual looks. also knows all the meme songs.

Demyx - will unironically listen to anything. he has playlists with everything from grindcore to tibetan folk music and everything in between. also a bowie fan, but mainly from labyrinth (dance water dance). in addition to sitar he can also play guitar and bass. he plays sitar in a south asian influenced indie band, and will hand out flyers in the castle to advertise his upcoming shows. (one time xemnas ripped a flyer right in his face and made him cry)

Luxord - also has a pretty eclectic taste, from classical to big band to prog rock to lady gaga. secretly a huge wham fan.

Marluxia - i could see him liking indie folk and quiet guitar music, and yes he’s totally that guy who plays music for his plants

Larxene - only listens to upbeat music, slow music bores her

Roxas - basically that one high school kid who’s still figuring out what he likes. he’ll listen to most of what org members recommend him, especially axel and xion, but is also into shit like slipknot and other hot topic music.

Xion - indie folk and singer-songwriter stuff. can play the ukelele. 

Organization XIII Music Preferences

Suggested by: No one

Xemnas

Doesn’t listen to music much and prefers peace and quiet.  When he does listen to music, it’s always something classical.  Chopin, Handel, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi… he likes them all.

Pretends to despise music when people - Demyx - play their own music too loud.  Will demand silence when it’s a song he particularly hates.

Has a soft spot for J.S. Bach’s Suite 1 in G Major and Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Violins in A Minor

Xigbar

Without a doubt, this boy loves rock and roll, specifically 70s and 80s rock.  He’s loved it for as long as he can remember, and loves that there are some songs that are perfect to put in the background during sex.

Aerosmith, Def Leppard, AC/DC? The epitome of great music to Xigbar.

Can listen to Love Bites on repeat for hours.

Loves Michael Jackson for some reason. Smooth Criminal is a person favorite, but is also fond of Billie Jean.

Xaldin

Music taste for Xaldin can go on completely opposite ends of the spectrum depending on his mood.  On occasion, he can be found listening to classical music with Luxord and Xemnas, but only rarely.  He’ll sometimes stop and hover in the doorway if he hears Chopin’s Nocturne op. 9 No. 2, but will never actually sit with them and enjoy.

If he’s in a bad mood, he’ll play music so loud that it will blow your ears out.  Every organization member knows to avoid him like the plague if you hear any type of heavy metal and screamo music coming from his general direction.

Vexen

Listens to obnoxiously loud classical music, but not because he likes it.  He only listens to it because he thinks it makes him sound smarter, but most of the other organization members just think he’s a douche for listening to it when it actually isn’t something he enjoys.

Secretly loves country music, but refuses to listen to it near any of the other organization members in case they tease him relentlessly.  Knows all the words to Dolly Parton’s Jolene.

Lexaeus

Also likes rock and roll, but is way more low key than Xigbar. Loves David Bowie and The Rolling Stones with a burning passion.

Hates Guns N’ Roses and Poison, but has no idea why.

Won’t ever tell anyone, but really likes Prince. Heard Purple Rain for the first time a few years ago and never went back. He’s also in a silent battle with Xigbar over whether or not Michael Jackson or Prince is better.

Zexion

Loves anything mindless that he can listen to while reading. Is it soft music? Yes. Classical? Fine. Just something instrumental? Perfect.

Nearly had a heart attack when he discovered audio books. They’re one of man’s greatest inventions.  Tends to listen to his giant list of audiobooks more than music nowadays.

Surprisingly also a fan of the Beach Boys.  Wouldn’t It Be Nice is a go to whenever he’s in the mood.

Saix

Totally listens to punk rock music from 2005 until now.  Demyx doesn’t have the heart to tell him that it’s out of style and Breaking Benjamin hasn’t been good since Diary of Jane.

Only listens to music while he’s working.  He finds it easier to do work when he has something mindless to listen to, so he’ll put on something in the background.

Axel

Axel listens to things ironically.  He likes to annoy people with his music taste, so you can bet your ass that he’ll randomly Rick Roll people. One time he Rick Rolled Xemnas three times in one day and Xemnas nearly threw him through a wall.

Listens to music that is extremely bad but he doesn’t care because he thinks it’s hilarious.  Will go to his grave saying that Kanye West’s Bound 2 was the greatest song ever released in 2013.

Tries his hardest to get Saix to listen to music with him, but the only one with the patience to actually sit through his music is Roxas.

Demyx

Listens to literally everything.  Has no real preference, but listens to whatever happens to strike his fancy that day.

Music taste generally changes based on his mood.

Unashamedly listens to all kinds of pop music.  Lady Gaga’s Applause is one of his personal favorites.

Listens to underground bands that no one has ever heard of before - songs like Under the Wheels by Calexico - and thoroughly enjoys it.

Luxord

Likes classical music like Xemnas.  The two will often sit in companionable silence and listen to their favorite classic songs together, but Xemnas will never admit it.

Also likes the Beatles, the Proclaimers and other classic British bands.  Xigbar once walked in on Luxord jamming out to I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), and has never let him live it down.

Marluxia

Like’s 80s music like Chromeo’s Old 45s and, if he happens to be in an upbeat mood, techno songs.

Definitely the type of person that listens to the same song over and over again because he loves it so much, but then gets so tired of it that he can never listen to it again without cringing.

Definitely likes to play lots of peaceful music for his plants.  He says that it helps them grow and that they thoroughly enjoy it.  Any organization member can definitely pass by his room at any time and hear traditional music like this.

Larxene

Likes fast-paced techno music, especially for when she’s practicing her knife-throwing.  They make her feel upbeat and full of energy, which is perfect for a great workout.

Also a fan of club music, though she’s never set foot in a club in her life.  Likes original mixes - Atom by Ilija Djokovic and Enrico Sangiuliano Hidden T are some favorites.

Prefers to listen to music with earbuds in.  Can’t stand listening to other people’s music and doesn’t like sharing her music with others.

Absolutely refuses to listen to music with Marluxia.  She hates his taste in music, especially when it’s the music he plays for his plants.

Roxas

Gets most of his song recommendations from Demyx.  Doesn’t understand the point of a lot of the music, but he’s always excited to be included.

Likes a little bit of everything, but usually enjoys looking for new music instead of listening to oldies.  Will listen to anything at least once and always gives new music a fair shot.

Has a soft spot for Jesse McCartney, but isn’t sure why.  He likes Beautiful Soul in particular.

Xion

A fan of Indie Folk and anything peaceful and flowing.  She loves Almost Lover by A Fine Frenzy and is disappointed that they aren’t making more music.

Also a fan of the Civil Wars, particularly their song Devil’s Backbone.  She likes the way that she can just sit down and sway to their music.

Can’t do anything else while she’s listening to music.  Has to sit down and experience it instead of just listening to it, which Roxas simply doesn’t understand.

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i have no idea where he got the giraffe and at this point i don’t wanna ask

i love this shithead so much

@imagine-organization-xiii inspired most of these sketches lol