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[Reaper Menphina AU]

Right before the Banquet, Menphina visits Drusilla one (possibly final) time before everything goes to hell. (~550 words)

Menphina let herself into the hidden entrance of her home. Yes, there was the somewhat subtle alley entrance, but this was the true way to slip in undisturbed.

She stood in her room for several long moments trying to quell the rising anxiety. In having the conversation, she'd have to admit out loud what she had refused to say. Still, Luna's presence was a comforting weight, and she needed to have this talk.

Walking to the entrance of Drusilla's office, Menphina tapped on the doorframe with her knuckles. A smile slipped onto Drusilla's face, and she opened her mouth – no doubt to say something about how long it's been since Menphina paid them proper visits – but one look at Menphina's expression had her pause.

Drusilla dropped her legs off the surface of her desk and sat up straighter in her chair.

“This ain't a social visit, is it.”

It wasn't really a question at that point, but Menphina nodded all the same.

“Something will go wrong in Ul'dah tonight. I cannot say what exactly, but I needed to warn you of the part I shall likely play.”

Drusilla's frown deepened. “Why are you usin’ that voice with me? You're on track to make me extra worried with you bein’ ominous and distant like that.”

Menphina sighed. “Sorry, sorry, I – I'll be in high society tonight, and I'm just… tired and tryin’ to keep track of my role.”

“At ease, just – tell me what's wrong, Menphina.”

Menphina leaned into the doorframe. “I knew the Crystal Braves were fucked from the start, but it's gone off faster than I thought. A young soldier turned up dead, and I just know he poked his nose where it weren't s’posed to be. And one of the few I trust just told me he secretly tracked the dirty gil straight back to Teledji.” Menphina tapped her foot on the floor. “Tried and tested it, myself. Told ‘em in Ul'dah that maybe I was needed somewhere to save lives, not eat at a banquet. They did exactly what I expected – response was that the Warrior of Light bein’ there was absolutely critical to politics.”

Drusilla narrowed her eyes. “So essentially, they need you to be here tonight. You're bein’ set up, but damned if I know how.” She stood smoothly and approached Menphina. “What do you need from us?”

“Nothing. I'm here to tell you to stay out of what happens next for the safety of the rest of the family. I refuse to take anyone down with me, not when you're damned if anyone looks too close.”

“Excuse me?” Drusilla rarely sounded so agitated and Menphina fought to keep her face calm in response. “My ears must not work as well as they used to, ‘cause I coulda sworn you just told me to abandon you.”

“I… please, this ain't a hunt, just political chocobo shite. If you step in, it'll hurt you ten times as much as what it manages to help me.”

Menphina flinched – could not help it – when Drusilla reached to grab her arms, but the hands holding onto her were gentle. There was a determined set to Drusilla's face. “A compromise. If you need to get out of the city, let our allies at the outskirts hide you – ‘til we can come find you there. Menphina, swear it.”

Menphina stuttered, struggling to make eye contact. “I can't… promise, it endangers those folk too, but I'll remember that the option is there.”

She could tell Drusilla was not pleased, but it was the best she could bear to offer.

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Sometimes Menphina/S'ria being max height just leads to funny moments

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You've heard of

Tank the dragon relative North of the entrance on a far platform

You've heard of

Tank the dragon in the center circle

Now get ready for!

Tank the dragon... on the bottom right near the entrance... not on any platform?

(genuinely never seen this happen before)

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Now that we finished the Skysteel DoL and are moving on to DoH, we now need to cope with remembering that.... The Skysteel DoH. Unlike the other relic tools from EnW and DT. Will cost me.

640,000 gil

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This week's spread! ♥️ 🧡 Red and orange, mostly built around the colors of that notebook sticker on the right

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I won't lie, the Skybuilders' fishing rod was agonizing -- but now DoL is done!

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June Hues 2025, Day 12: Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak

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[Reaper Menphina AU] Menphina reminisces a bit while Leviathan tries to kill her.

(~600 words, tw for near drowning)

The surface of the ship was already slippery footing, and the fact that Leviathan kept crashing waves onto the deck did nothing to help. Menphina wished she had worn something lighter than her usual wear. Logically, she should've known she'd be drenched the moment the primal got within range.

Menphina lost her balance entirely when a wave taller than her crashed over the railings. She caught herself at the opposite rail before she could be swept into the sea, choking on seawater.

It was a feeling and taste that brought back an old memory.

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The first thing Menphina did upon waking was to start coughing brackish water out of her lungs. The searing Thanalan sun was too bright for her to fully open her eyes, and her head was fuzzy, but she could sense the person leaning over her.

“ – fool of a girl, need to tell me shite like this –”

Menphina almost laughed, and it set off another round of coughing. She rarely heard Drusilla so worried.

She remembered… right, okay, that'd been what happened.

She remembered their mark turning on her, sensing the weak link the novice reaper represented, and managing to put her on the back foot. Her evasion led her to be backed against the wall of the bridge and she cursed. It was a stupid mistake to still be making.

Menphina froze, blocking the next swing with the handle of her scythe and looking for an opening to escape. She hadn't considered backwards as an option, but Drusilla yelled for her to jump over the edge and Menphina had followed the instruction with no hesitation.

Clearly, the river had not been the safest idea, even if it let Drusilla ambush her attacker. She was alive though, and that was the correct result.

Menphina tried to clear her throat, feeling the sore burn unpleasantly linger.

“When was I meant to have learned to swim? When I was in Garlemald, or should I remember from when I was five summers old?”

The look on Drusilla's face was briefly sad and Menphina cringed, trying to sit up. “It's fine, we're both alive – and you killed the mark when I jumped, right?” She gave an exhausted smile. “Thanks for savin’ me, I'll be right as rain after some sleep.”

“I didn't. Your voidsent dragged you out, I don't know if you'd still be breathin’ if you'd had only me to rely on.”

Drusilla didn't react to Luna with much besides mistrust, but that was perhaps the fondest her voice had ever sounded when talking of them. Menphina let Drusilla help her to her feet, pushing back the wave of guilt that she felt flow from Drusilla the moment they made contact. “I can start tomorrow. Next time you tell me to jump off a bridge, I'll be ready to not drown.”

“If we tighten up your footwork, hopefully you won't be puttin’ your back to a damned wall again anytime soon.”

The words stung just slightly, despite Menphina already berating herself for the mistake, but Drusilla's steadying hand lingering on her back took the bite away from the critique.

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Menphina braced herself and swept wet hair away from her face. She'd held tight to her scythe the whole time she'd been thrown about, and now shifted back into a battle stance.

She felt Luna shift over her skin, checking for injuries. She spoke in a low voice, waiting for Leviathan to surface again.

“I've always wondered – since you're currently a shadow… are you also drenched or can water not stick to you?”

Luna scoffed. «Leave the metaphysical discussions for after we kill this.»

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The rain fell in heavy sheets onto the roof of the chocobo carriage as it sped off into the night, carrying the small group onward. The torches of the guards were far into the distance at this point, the downpour drowning out the sounds of their search. Cameron curled into Camellia's side, his breathing light. He hadn't said a word since they were accused, and Camellia suspected that he may be going through another memory loss episode. There were times when he would be unable to speak a word, terrified of all around him, and would later recall not a moment of that time... ...She only hoped that he would be able to calm now that they were leaving. His shivering was near constant, though she wasn't sure if it was from the rain soaking their clothing or from fear. In an effort to help, Camellia wrapped an arm around his shoulders, her voice low as she spoke. "...No one will harm you as long as I am here." If Alphinaud or Pipin heard her words, neither showed any sign of it. "I will keep you safe. ...Pray rest now." She wasn't surprised to get no verbal response, but she was relieved to feel Cameron gradually relax against her. It would be a long night. She only hoped that someone at the end of the road would be able to help them.

replaying ARR on an alt account for cameron. since we didn't actually play through it on camellia, it's been a good chance to flesh out their story during it- so to celebrate finally making it to heavensward, here's a bit from the parting glass.

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Two! Only one DoL left

(.....started FSH, it's...not looking pleasant)

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Meme in honor of whenever you meet the most rancid player, and they are in a solo FC

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Now that the first stage of Cosmic Tools are done, and the Splendorous Tools are all complete, we've gone back to do Skybuilder!

1 out of 11, done!

(This was extremely smooth and painless, until basically the last step -- but still much easier than DoL Splendorous)

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June Hues 2025, Day 11: St. Mocianne's Arboretum (Hard)

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I'm still fighting for me life here, he was mis-delivered and the post office promises they'll bring him out to deliver correctly but I no longer have tracking info 😔

Oh my god it's like a prophecy

Pre-order Brain plushie was "delivered", and just like the Link, he is. Missing!!!!

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June Hues 2025, Day 10: P4

(yes, I promise this is still the goth dracula arena, despite it all)

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June Hues 2025, Day 9: T13 (Final Coils, 4th turn)

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I try to stay on the correct side of the law, i.e. not pushing ToS on gameplay griefing as tank or healer. I certainly won't YPYT murder someone.

However.

If I'm a healer and the first-timer in a dungeon is in a cutscene, I will politely stand back next to them until they are out.

Whatever Happens during that time is up to everyone else, I will still be waiting with the newcomer.

(Mind you, it's not just me being petty, sometimes it helps to know that someone in the party wanted to wait for you.)