starjunco

[starjunco]

Tracking Nyx's Kukris - Part 1

Welcome to our first deep dive for Nyx Week 2025!

We’re going to take a look at where Nyx’s kukris are during the film, with a special focus on at where weapons seem to be allowed and not allowed in Insomnia. There will be a part two that focuses a little more on *how* Nyx uses them during the battles in the middle of the movie.

Unless noted otherwise, the images are from the wonderful @starjunco. Thanks also to @capsource and the wiki. All images have descriptions in the alt text; let us know if there are any issues.

As a reminder, Nyx has two kukris, one made in Galahd that he keeps in the sheath on his right leg and one made in Insomnia that he keeps in the horizontal sheath at the small of his back. The wiki has a lovely image of them here (the Insomnian blade is the top, the Galahdan in the middle, and the bottom image shows the sheathed Galahdan kukri with the small blades used for sharpening it in attached sheathes):

Got those in mind? Good! Let’s dive in.

Psych! Actually, we’re going to briefly talk about other weapons first, to keep with our theme of where and when weapons are used.

The movie opens with a shot of the three courts - Lucis, Niflheim, and Tenebrae. Neither of the people (vs MTs) in the first two groups have weapons, but when we see the group collected in the grove of Tenebrae there is an armed set of guards (though none of the nobles appear to be armed, at least openly). Not just Regis, who has weapons stored in the ring, but neither Sylva nor Ravus have weapons on them, which of course does not go well for them.

Now back to the important part - Nyx.

Nyx makes his grand entrance literally one-shotting a behemoth, and it says a lot about him that this is not the pinnacle of his appearance in the movie. It’s impossible to see during the attack, but after he lands we do see that he used the Galahdan kukri for this.

[[image courtesy of @capsource. Technically from slightly later in the battle but it's much prettier than anything from this early.]]

In fact, throughout the opening battle, he will only use the Galahdan kukri, mainly keeping it in his right hand, leaving his left free for magic usage and catching his balance. If this is his normal fighting style, it might explain the differences between his gloves.

[[edited from stills from @capsource]]

Shortly after he appears onscreen, Nyx does do a little shuffle to switch the Galahdan kukri to his left hand so he can use his right to tap his earpiece, then tosses it back to his right hand before warping off. This is pretty minor, and mainly interesting because of a scene we’ll discuss later.

It also means that it is his Galahdan kukri (in his right hand) that he points at Pelna while he claims to be “worth the wait”.

[[image courtesy of @capsource]]

Nyx keeps it out through most of the fight - when Luche tries to stop him from charging back at the enemy as the Glaives retreat, he still has it drawn, and it’s what he throws to go after Libertus.

Throughout the fight with the Cerberus he keeps to that pattern - magic with his empty left hand, stabbing and throwing with the blade in his right (except when he seems to use the blade to magic himself invisible as Libertus did earlier).

[[potato quality cap courtesy of me]]

It does get slightly odd when he gives Libertus a blade so they can warp out of there, though, as he seems to have two Galahdan kukris here. This could be a byproduct of the opening battle being created by a slightly different group than did the rest of the movie, or a simple mistake.  If you have a fun headcanon about why it happens from an in-universe perspective, feel free to share it; we’d love to hear it!

To further complicate the situation, when he helps carry Libertus out on the stretcher, Nyx’s leg sheath appears to be empty, but it’s filled by the time he talks to Drautos.

[[First potato quality image another cap by me, second lovely image by @capsource]]

The first appearance of the Insomnian kukri is actually here, when Tredd uses it to shave as they head back to Insomnia. Tredd never uses this weapon again, so presumably it’s the same one Nyx uses (or again, an error in communication from the different groups). Have fun with this information (and again, tag us about it!)

[[another low quality image from me]]

Side note: Here’s another interesting point about weapon etiquette - when Drautos reports to Regis, he has his blade by his side. Given that we never see him without it, it could just be easier on the animators, but it does raise some questions. Does Drautos have some special privilege that allows him to be armed here, or a dispensation for the fact that perhaps he can’t summon it as other nobles and characters can summon theirs? (remember, even Aranea can summon her lance, so it doesn’t appear to be a specifically Lucian magic).

[[It's low quality, it's from me!]]

A very interesting weapon in the throne room is whatever swords the Crownsguard are using here to (ineffectively) bar Ardyn from the room. They appear to possibly be able to fold at the round parts, though it’s hard to get a good picture of them given the lighting. Another interesting worldbuilding note that probably comes from saving money on extra models - the Crownsguard here are dressed the same as at the Gate, which is more like fatigues than anything as dressy as one might expect in a throne room. Make of it what you will.

Nyx appears next on gate duty, where he is in his basic uniform (plus chain, as always) but has both his kukris in their sheaths. Petra appears to be unarmed, but perhaps has the same sort of folding sword as his fellows in the throne room at his side.

Obviously, none of the glaives are armed at Yamachang’s, but we also don’t see where Nyx’s sheathes went. He has his jacket over his arm, but the belts and sheathes don’t seem to be there.

Then we switch to training, where – at least in his flashback – Nyx is fully suited up in his battle uniform, with both kukris. He tries to throw the Galahdan one but something fails, and so Nyx starts falling, dropping the Galahdan kukri as he falls.

When he snaps out of it, he’s in his basic uniform but with both kukris. There are a few other glaives armed as they listen to the broadcast of the peace treaty, and a few others in battle uniforms, too, likely for training.

But when they assemble in the briefing room as Drautos commands, Nyx appears to be the only one (other than Drautos) still armed, which is very odd.

[[Look, it's a bad quality still we know it's me, but it's not all my fault this time! Tredd is just out of focus in the shot; that's not on me!]]

Next we cut to seeing off Crowe, where neither Libertus nor Nyx are armed, though both are in the standard uniform. Nyx (out of standard uniform) is also unarmed as he watches the tv in his apartment. ^_^

As Nyx prepares to report for duty at the Citadel, he swings on his jacket while clearly unarmed (which is likely wise amid all those people). Drautos picks him up in Noctis’s car, and since Drautos doesn’t have his odd yoke around his shoulder (presumably for more freedom of movement in the car) I hope he also has taken off his sword, because that seems to be rather uncomfortable.

That said, when they actually pick up Luna, Drautos has the yoke and his sword on, and Nyx is suddenly armed. Either Nyx does keep his kukri and their sheathes in a sort of storage space, or Drautos had already picked them up and had them all shoved in the back seat or trunk (I imagine that was pretty funny to watch them wiggle into if so).

Nyx keeps his kukris as he escorts Luna into the throne room, perhaps because he is functioning as a guard for her, and perhaps because they just assume Regis (and presumably Clarus and any Crownsguard) should be able to handle himself as a Lucian king? Who knows.

Even once he leaves Luna’s side and checks in with Drautos, Nyx keeps his weapons, though he loses them sometime during the run to meet Libertus outside the morgue when he hears about Crowe being returned. Perhaps he ditched them for speed or to cause less panic from an armed Glaive running, or there is some sort of etiquette about being armed outdoors within the citadel district. Have fun with speculation!

An indeterminate about of time later, as Nyx is handed Crowe’s effects, he still is unarmed. T_T

While on guard duty at the signing party, Nyx is again unarmed (which might be wise considering the Emperor of Niflheim is there) but Drautos has his sword, which might indicate special privileges or again that the animators just didn’t bother to make a model without the sword.

The next day, while on guard duty at the Citadel steps, Nyx is once again unarmed – perhaps that is another reason he might not have bothered with carrying his kukris when he was originally reporting for duty earlier.

The Crownsguard members preparing for extra guard duty do appear, however, to be armed, either with the folding swords or some kind of taser.

Nyx doesn’t have his kukris while running back to his apartment or fastwalking in the Citadel to talk to Regis. He also is unarmed during his talk with the king.

Then we get a lovely arming scene as the Glaives gear up to rescue Luna, and Nyx is armed through the rest of the movie.

[[I tried]]

This seems a good place to stop, though, and continue with the major battles in another post soon.

[starjunco]

Greetings and Salutations!

I saw the post you did of your FFXV maps and I just want to say I love and appreciate the work you put into compiling them! The maps for this game are really hard to come by and not always the best of quality. Sometimes impossible to find without delving into the game files a bit.

I shared your post with some of my mutuals who are not on tumblr and they are going feral over these as well.

So I just wanted to let you know thatbl your work is not going unseen!

Thank you! I'm really glad you liked the lists! Maps in FFXV are so confusing. Maybe one day they'll give us a nice world map for an anniversary or something.

[starjunco]

“Irritated fans produce fanfic like irritated oysters produce pearls.”

— Anne Jamison (via pen-in-hand)

[starjunco]

Internet, I need your help. I lost a dragon necklace that was a gift to me from my grandmother and I would have sworn up and down that I remembered what it looked like but I've now tried to find a placement for long enough that I'm starting to doubt my own memory and unfortunately I cannot find a picture anywhere so I am asking the internet web searchers to help me out here.

It was sterling silver, similar in design to the one below (flat, slightly concave back, ring at top of head for attachment point, similar artistic style)

But I would SWEAR it had more folds than two, and was more vertically aligned, like so:

It had a 925 hallmark on the back as well, the head faced to the left. It was definitely in the more Asian style rather than western, the claws weren't holding anything and it did not have wings.

If anyone can find it so I can acquire a replacement I would be incredibly grateful. I know this is a long shot but I'm willing to try.

[starjunco]

Still chugging along with the FFXIV playing card deck - we're about a third of the way there!

If you have just a couple of bucks a month to spare and would like to see this deck made, please consider joining us on Patreon. And if you happen to have a few more dollars than that, prints of completed cards are available on the $20 tier. Literally nothing I do is possible without the fine folks over there, so please consider helping out if you can.

Previously: FF playing cards | FFVII playing cards | FFXV Tarots | FFVII Tarots | FFXV Playing cards | FFVII Full Tarots | FF Hanafuda deck | FFVII Shinra photo book

Patreon | Bluesky

[starjunco]

lunyx live au - incognito

[starjunco]

roses are red, violets are blue, "kenny crow" rhymes with "chocobro" and—

Here's a list of @fandomtrumpshate auctions for Final Fantasy XV!!!

I couldn't come up with a cornier joke...!!

Listed in the order presented in the Final Fantasy XV fandom tag:

Contributor: omnipotence

Type of fanwork: Written fanwork

Characters/pairings of interest: Willing to write for any pairings

Link to listing: Listing 1

🎣📸🥾🍴

Contributor: Bleed Peroxide

Type of fanwork: Written fanwork

Characters/pairings of interest: Contributor loves exploring the taboo ships like ArdNoct, etc. but also enjoys more “wholesome” ships like, and ESPECIALLY, Ignoct. (Though contributor loves a lot of the chocobro ships.)

Link to listing: Listing 1

🎣📸🥾🍴

Contributor: Kaciart

Type of fanwork: Fan-art

Characters/pairings of interest: Any Characters and pairings are fine by the contributor

Link to listing: Listing 1

🎣📸🥾🍴

Contributor: Loki_chan

Type of fanwork: Written fanwork

Characters/pairings of interest: Cor Leonis/Nyx Ulric (contributor's OTP), Promptis, polyship roadtrip, Dad!Cor and Prompto, Luna/Crowe. Contributor prefers a focus on the characters from Kingsglaive and the Glaives, though Nyx is the contributor's favorite. From the main game, contributor loves Cor and his relationships with Regis, Clarus, Cid, and Weskham. Also, interested in the women of FFXV such as Luna, Cindy, Aranea, and Crowe. (Please make sure to check the contributor's listing for the exact information!)

Link to listing: Listing 1

🎣📸🥾🍴

Contributor: Jai Prompito

Type of fanwork: Fan-art

Characters/pairings of interest: Any of the Chocobros together but open to other pairings and characters, especially in a general sense. Humanoid characters only.

Link to listing: Listing 1

🎣📸🥾🍴

Contributor: potato_pods

Type of fanwork: Podfic

Characters/pairings of interest: Chocobros, Ignoct, Promnis

Link to listing: Listing 1

🎣📸🥾🍴

Contributor: liv_seaofolives

Type of fanwork: Written fanwork

Characters/pairings of interest: Gladiolus Amicitia x Ignis Scientia (all other pairings must be platonic, but background Lunoct is okay). Favorite character is Gladiolus Amicitia.

Links to listing: Listing 1, Listing 2

🎣📸🥾🍴

Contributor: Goldtinted

Type of fanwork: Written fanwork

Characters/pairings of interest: Ignis/Noctis, Luna/Nyx

Link to listing: Listing 1

🎣📸🥾🍴

Contributor: UnknownLifeform

Type of fanwork: Written fanwork

Characters/pairings of interest: any chocobros combination, Lunyx

Link to listing: Listing 1

🎣📸🥾🍴

Contributor: GingerEl

Type of fanwork: Written fanwork

Characters/pairings of interest: Happy to write a multitude of ships for XV, including rare pairs and polyships. Anything contributor has written before is fair game (with one exclusion detailed in the listing so please be sure to check the contributor's pages). Contributor is open to writing new relationships as well.

Links to listing: Listing 1, Listing 2

🎣📸🥾🍴

Contributor: KaiserinAstraia

Type of fanwork: Fanlabor (Betaing)

Fanwork details: Offering feedback on SPaG (spelling and grammar), characterization, dialogue, alpha reading, cheerleading, and brainstorming for plot development.

Link to listing: Listing 1

🎣📸🥾🍴

Bidding opens on 2025 February 25, 8:00AM ET, so start planning your bids!!

[starjunco]

Finally got myself together and released this heart pattern! It's mosaic crochet! It's FREE!

AND!

It's on my brand new website!!

You know what else is there? Every single mosaic crochet chart I've created up until now! The dice! The Veilguard symbol! It's all on there!

I've also got tutorials for overlay mosaic crochet starting at the very beginning, so if you've ever been interested in learning, I've got you. Go forth and learn mosaic!

[starjunco]

Someone commissioned me to draw some Modern AU-esque LuNyx dancing in the kitchen and falling in love. :)

It's been a looong while since I drew them. I rarely accept pair characters for commissions due to the unpredictable nature of my work which makes me take a long time to draw them fully rendered. The busyness also affects my mood to draw which leads to a quality that I'm not satisfied with - I don't want to give half-assed work, hence just accepting single character commissions.

But since it's LuNyx and they make me feel nostalgic and I felt like I can give my best to it, I accepted this one.

-----

Commissions are still open, check out my pinned post if you're interested. :)

[starjunco]

Life has been crazy for us, but Nyx and Kingsglaive are always worth the wait!

Love Nyx? Fan of Kingsglaive? Please take our survey and let us know how you feel about Nyx and Kingsglaive events for this year.

The survey will be open until Feb. 16th!

[starjunco]

This came across my Facebook feed, felt I’d share it.

[starjunco]

lmaooo so not only did my $100 tablet pen get mauled by my cat, but our fridge just up and broke overnight 😭😭

gently nudging this ✨ko-fi tip jar✨in case anyone would like to fund a poor artist's need for chilled produce <3

[starjunco]

First 6 signs (tomorrow I will post the other 6) 🐈‍⬛🤍

[starjunco]

Noctis and The 'Black Moment' That Never Was

Given the recent discovery of an earlier version of a Final Fantasy XV scene featuring Noctis being imprisoned by Bahamut in Angelgard instead of the Crystal and him showing genuine fear about his destiny (here), I'm reminded of how unfortunate it is that the final game didn't explore the reaction to his fate as well as it deserved and how it could have been one of the most significant scenes in the game. In light of this new scene, I want to use it as an opportunity to address this vital plot point, how it affects Noctis' arc and the story as a whole and why what we got just didn't quite hit the mark.

THE 'BLACK MOMENT'

In typical story structure, this plot point would represent the "The Black Moment" or "The Dark Night of the Soul" among other titles. Taking place before the climax of a story, this pivotal moment is intended to feel like all hope is now lost and showcase the protagonist at their lowest and, in many cases, physically alone. To overcome this, these scenes demand that they gain new insight and understanding - essentially to realize the lesson meant to be learned that defines the thematic core of the story - to pull them out of their despair and carry them across the threshold to the final act. In the above image, you can see that this event precedes the "Road Back" which, in the case of this story, is obviously represented by Noctis returning to the world and regrouping with his allies before entering the climax to face Ardyn and fulfill his calling. Of course, everything leading to the end hinges on the 'Black Moment' beat, so let's explore how each version of this scene tried to tackle this and how they could have been improved:

SCENE COMPARISON

In the original version of the scene, Noctis is physically imprisoned in a dark and gloomy cell in Angelgard - a fitting choice that helps to highlight the tragedy of his circumstances and reflect how he feels trapped by his destiny as well as parallel Ardyn's own imprisonment. Noctis verbally lashes out at Bahamut and expresses genuine anger and fear towards the newly discovered truth of his impending demise.

"'Returned to naught'? I just... fade away? Wait - no! Lemme out of here! - Noctis

Though this missing scene does a better job portraying a stronger reaction from Noctis than the final game, it does still fail to give credible evidence to validate his decision to accept his fate beyond the player simply selecting an option to continue. As such, Noctis and the player may feel more coerced into saying 'yes' here without actually going through the time and processing necessary to truly accept it. Though I'm sure this scene doesn't fully represent the developer's initial intentions and there could have been far more to it, as it stands, it's still not enough to create a successful 'Black Moment".

"Only at the throne can the Chosen receive [the power] and only at the cost of a life: his own. The King of Kings shall be granted the power to banish the darkness, but the blood price must be paid. To cast out the Usurper and usher in Dawn's light will cost the life of the Chosen. Many sacrificed all for the King so must the King sacrifice himself for all. Now enter into Reflection, that the Light of Providence shine within." - Bahamut

In the final version of the game, the essential elements needed for this scene to work are... present to a degree but could have been greatly improved as these aspects are implied rather than explored. After being told the news of his impending death, Noctis does make a distressed expression, but he never gets to voice or process his feelings about it and the moment quickly moves away to show him being forced into slumber.

This is supposed to be a huge turning point. A gut punch to the character and audience and it deserved a stronger reaction - one more akin to the panic and anger that is showcased in the original scene. On the heels of this devastating news, discovering Ardyn's true identity and nefarious intentions and finding himself utterly alone without his friends, Noctis is understandably at his lowest and we need to feel that. Light shines brightest in the dark and the darker we allow this scene the be, the brighter hope can shine after and the more satisfying it will be.

By way of processing, we see a brief montage of footage from previous moments in the game to show Noctis reflecting on them and then he awakens 10 years later having completely worked through all of his trauma, grief and guilt and the sudden transformation naturally feels a bit jarring. Progress is assumed through the passage of time and the natural maturation that comes from age, but this simply isn't enough. There is a lot to unpack here and it deserves to be. The game can't simply rely on a time skip to produce a grudging acceptance. It needs to be a choice - one that he makes wholeheartedly and that the audience fully understands.

I will say, I do like physically seeing the power entering Noctis via the Ring of the Lucii in this version rather than implying he's powering up off-screen, but it's something he should earn after accepting his fate rather than it being forced on him without his consent. Gaining the power he needs to save the world needs to act as the reward for choosing to do so.

DIGGING DEEPER

So, what is necessary for him to grow here? What is the thing that truly awakens the inner King in Noctis and brings him out of the depths of his despair? What makes him choose to willingly sacrifice his life? Though it's an amalgam of a number of things, above all, it is love. Love for his father, love for Luna, love for his friends, love for the people he's met and the world he lives in. Love that counteracts his fear. He has to remember what and who he's doing this for. Though the cost is steep, he has to determine it's worth it to fulfill his duty and save the world.

Of course, Noctis' opinion about his calling changes throughout the story. After Luna first introduces him to the reality that he is the Chosen one as a child, he's hesitant at first, but promises he won't let her down. He has no real idea of what his task will truly be but shows enthusiasm anyway most likely because it was Luna herself who showed such belief in him. As an adult, Noctis begins to struggle with his new reality after the death of his father and shows great anxiety about the mounting responsibilities thrust upon him including his kingly duties, upcoming marriage and the growing burden of his calling. After the loss of Luna, his dedication to continue feels largely driven by immense guilt and need for revenge. In Episode Ignis, after Ignis suggests they end their quest due to suffering so much loss (and now knowing about Noctis' fate), he responds:

"Are you kidding me? That's exactly why I have to keep going - because if I give up now, their sacrifices would have been for nothing!" - Noctis

Though not wanting their sacrifices to be in vain is noble, this should not be his main driving force, especially if his desire to press forward comes from a place of pain and contrition more than anything else. He even refuses to put on the Ring - the symbol of his Kingship and destiny - which shows his lack of true commitment to what is expected of him. At this point, he still has a lot to process and understand before he can fully accept the reality of a fate he is still largely unaware of and truly let go of the fears and anxieties surrounding it.

Noctis has had little time to process his emotions on his journey thus far and the respite afforded by the 'Black Moment' now allows him the opportunity to do so. Whether through playable content that permits Noctis and the audience to tangibly explore his past and current emotions or a prolonged cutscene in either the prison or Crystal, we definitely needed to see him confront what's happened thus far - the good and the bad - and grow from it.

In the Dawn of the Future version of the story, we learn more about what Noctis was dreaming about in the Crystal which included witnessing some of the history of the world, seeing insightful pieces of the lives of characters such as Ardyn and Luna and even getting to interact with his father again. Given this was added to the book and therefore indicative of the developer's intention to feature it in Episode Noctis, I wonder if it had always been their desire to explore his time in the Crystal this way but never got the time to realize in the final game. Noctis actually getting to see and interact with the past and other significant figures would have made for a far more effective 'Black Moment' given its prolonged introspective and revelatory nature.

THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

To help guide and comfort him as she always has, I believe that somehow seeing or hearing Luna's spirit again in some way during the 'Black Moment' would have been essential given her narrative purpose and provide a satisfying reference back to her dying promise to him:

"When the world falls down around you and hope is lost. When you find yourself alone amid a lightless place. Look to the distance, know that I am there and that I watch over you always." - Lunafreya

Like the moon shining in his dark prison cell in the old version - the literal light in the night sky - she is the reminder of love and hope to cling to when the darkness threatens to swallow him. This dialogue is so accurate to this scene that I feel it was foreshadowing it specifically to payoff here. Also, if they had gone with the idea of Noctis drawing his power from the moon instead of the Crystal, her presence would be even more significant here and it certainly seems like the original version in Angelgard attempted to spotlight her to a degree as the translated dialogue after he accepts his charge reveals:

"No one tells me anything. I'm always late accepting. Luna, I'm sorry. I will fulfill my duty." - Noctis (Translated by K as in Kei)

This situation creates an even deeper connection between them as, to save the world together like they were destined to do, both Noctis and Luna have to die and surrender their personal desires for a future. As in life, Noctis has to continue to follow her lead and example to become the man she always knew he could be. If she could be dutiful and walk boldly to her fate, so can he and that knowledge would be paramount in helping to encourage him to complete his journey as he remembers his promise not to let her down.

Of course, to truly accept his death, Noctis would naturally have to mourn the life he won't get to live. So many aspects of his life have been derailed already and, after the loss of his father, his home and his fiancé, he now has to face that he has no future beyond being a sacrifice. This is a reality that Luna had to face as well, which would help him better understand what she had to go through and even come to terms with her death as he comes to terms with his own. By letting go of the guilt he feels and truly recognizing that it was an inevitable and accepted part of her calling and not a product of his own mistakes, can he start to forgive himself for everything else, too.

"[...] That may be but it's my choice. If only... if only I could hear his voice once more. If we could laugh together as we did as children. If we could live out our days together as we once dreamed. [...] Forgive me, I vowed to only cry where prying eyes could not see the tears in mine. [...] No, she is no different at all. She wants exactly what they do: to be with the one she loves. But want though she may, it is not to be." - Lunafreya

In a moving flashback, we see Luna grieve the life she wanted and knew she would never have but emphasize that, despite her sorrow, it was still her choice to "throw her life away" and one that she accepted fully with humility and grace. We see her persist to the end due to her strong sense of duty and, most importantly, her love and dedication to Noctis and the people of the world which is what he must use to guide him as well.

To me, this moment feels reminiscent of the campfire scene where Noctis also tearfully voices his acceptance of his fate while allowing himself to uncharacteristically reveal the pain of it, too. Though Noctis has had a decade to process these feelings by this point and fully come to terms with them, he's still a person mourning the sudden finality of his life and the now fleeting moments he'll get to spend with his remaining loved ones. The emotional strength of this scene could act as a reflection of his initial despair as the pain becomes fresh once more but, this time, Noctis is more readily able to tame it. As he stands and looks to each of his friends in turn, reflecting on their friendship and his love for them, he allows that love to outweigh fear and grief. As we watch his tears turn into a smile, it is a perfect display of how he's grown from the 'Black Moment' and a fitting final scene to the game.

"So, I... I've made my peace. Still, knowing this is it and seeing you here, now, it's... more than I can take. Well, what can I say? You guys are the best." - Noctis

All of this emotional progress would also lead him to simply start believing in himself and his worth. He has to remember that he has the support of so many who truly have faith in his ability to fulfill his duty and it's something he needs to accept in himself, too. If they had gone with the Angelgard prison version, a place once defined by punishment would herald Noctis' liberation and, instead of succumbing to darkness like Ardyn, he found light.

METAMORPHOSIS

By reflecting on and embracing his past and remembering what drives him, Noctis would then be ready to finally accept the reality of his calling and begin his metamorphosis, both physically and emotionally, into the King of Light. The man that emerges 10 years later is wise, mature and at peace with his fate. Though the sudden change may not feel as congruent in the final game without taking the time and necessary steps to get there, there are still many moments depicting just how far Noctis has come after the time skip that leave an impact regardless. Beyond the campfire scene, another great example that comes to mind is his conversation with Ignis, showcasing that he can now look back on his life fondly and doesn't hold onto negative emotions:

"You know, looking back, it wasn't all bad. [...] And our fair share of trouble too... but I don't have any regrets. Luna and you guys brought me this far and now I'm on my own." - Noctis

We can also see how much he's grown in his final battle with Ardyn. Not only is he physically stronger, but he's also gained the mental and emotional fortitude to withstand Ardyn's denigrations regarding his efficacy as the Chosen One and his guilt about his father and Luna. Though these barbs would have hit their mark in the past, Noctis is now resistant to them as he's fully processed those emotions and no longer gives them credence. Noctis has tasted the darkness Ardyn once knew but come out of it intact due to the strength of his relationships that ushered him through it. Unlike Ardyn, he is not alone and he fights for love instead of revenge and that is why he succeeds.

"Yet when your father died, you were off playing with your friends! When your beloved died, you lay watching powerless to stop it! You think 10 years is a long time? It is nothing to me! I have lived in darkness for ages!" - Ardyn

Despite what some might think, defeating Ardyn in the physical world is not the Climax. It's in the throne room that Noctis must face the true test of his calling and finally allow himself to be sacrificed. This is where the themes and the lessons he's embraced from the 'Black Moment' rise to the forefront and lead to Ardyn's ultimate demise. It is here that Noctis walks to his death without visible fear, summoning his own executioners with steeled resolve. There are no tears. No second thoughts. Just an unwavering determination to fulfill his calling and save the world once and for all as he assures his father to trust in his ability to do so.

"I'm home. I walked tall and though it took me a while, I'm ready now. I love you all. Luna, guys, dad. The time we had together, I cherish." - Noctis

Through dialogue, the scene reminds us that Noctis' relationships are his driving force and, in what could have been an even more moving parallel to the 'Black Moment', the flashback footage of his loved ones that he remembers at his lowest once more is what helps him endure the agony of his sacrifice and is enough to sustain his strength to continue to the end.

"It's finally over." - Noctis

As Noctis utters these final words at the culmination of years spent in turmoil facing the obstacles of his unjust fate, Noctis dies with a small smile on his face, relieved that his struggles are finally over. He has restored light and hope to the world, fulfilled his calling and can now rest with his lost love knowing he succeeded in safeguarding his remaining loved ones and provided a future for generations to come. It's a bittersweet conclusion to his life - one filled with great strife and heartache but also great love - love that was essential to save the world.

In another parallel between them, Noctis' end reminds me of Ravus' words regarding the death of his sister, Luna, in Episode Ignis and further showcases how much Noctis succeeded in following her footsteps:

"I always knew that [Luna] would face [her] fate without fear, fulfill [her] duty without regret. But part of me always hoped... she would get the chance to live and love as she pleased. [...] And, as in life, I know she will confront that challenge with a smile on her face." - Ravus

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, allowing Noctis to have a stronger reaction to the devastating news of his fate and exploring his passage to acceptance to provide necessary character growth would have been a huge improvement and further embodied and enhanced the heart of this story, one that, though touched upon to a degree, is lacking the immense impact it could have had. Though this game is full of powerful, moving moments, a more successful 'Black Moment' could have been one of the strongest and added more weight to an already emotionally resonant conclusion.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this meta, please like and reblog to help spread it around!

[starjunco]

Fluffcember 2024

Heyho.

@alpaca-clouds here!

I was asked whether I would create Fluffcember as an official challenge this year, and I thought to myself: You know what? Why not?

Hence this blog - and a really early posting of the list.

Rules

This is a 1-month-challenge for fluffy fanworks.

All sorts of fanworks (art, writing, graphics) welcome.

We will however not accept any AI-Art or AI-Writing!

SFW and NSFW is both welcome - but please make sure to tag it accordingly.

Tag CWs if you share under this tag!

No minimum or maximum word count for writing!

We will reblog entries during the month of December!

If you have questions: The asks are open!

Full list of prompts under the cut.

Day 01: Roasted Marshmallows

Day 02: Winter Flu

Day 03: Snow Man

Day 04: Christmas Sweater

Day 05: Northern Lights

Day 06: Gingerbread House

Day 07: Condensed Breath

Day 08: Sparkling Snow

Day 09: Sugar Rush

Day 10: Carols

Day 11: Slippery

Day 12: Skiing

Day 13: Fire and Ice

Day 14: Winter Soup

Day 15: Naughty List

Day 16: Chocolate

Day 17: Snowed in

Day 18: Mistletoe

Day 19: Fondue

Day 20: Fairy Tales

Day 21: Cabin in the Snow

Day 22: Winter Storm

Day 23: Confessions

Day 24: Christmas Tree

Day 25: The Perfect Gift

Day 26: Forgiveness

Day 27: Family Gathering

Day 28: Cold Turkey

Day 29: Mint

Day 30: Warming Up

Day 31: Fireworks

Alternatives:

Hot Bath

Fallen Through The Ice

Holiday Decoration

Homecooked Meals

Coming Home

[starjunco]

Above is the official Hurtcember 2024 prompts list.

Below are alternative prompts in case one doesn't want to do a few of the prompts (but still do the whole challenge) or for those who just want to write/draw more.

Both lists are typed out at the bottom of this post.

RULES 1. You can write/draw for any fandom or pairing 2. You can write/draw SFW or NSFW content, just label it accordingly 3. Please tag any Tumblr posts sharing your prompt fills with #hurtcember2024 so that we can find and repost them 4. If you post your works to AO3, please add them to this collection and add "Hurtcember" and/or "Hurtcember 2024" to the additional tags of your prompt fill(s) 5. The challenge officially starts on December 1st but feel free to write/draw before then and/or submit things after the month ends officially, whatever works best for you 6. Be kind to other participants 7. You DO NOT have to do every single prompt if you don't want to. The point is to have fun and spark creativity, not to feel like you're doing a chore

Prompts List (Text Copy) 1. Collapse 2. Breakdown 3. Blood 4. Scars 5. Faint 6. Touch-Starved 7. Abandoned 8. Cuddle 9. Exhaustion 10. Touch Aversion 11. Caretaking 12. Cry 13. Nightmare 14. Near Death 15. Trauma 16. Bruise 17. Concussion 18. Fatigue 19. Desperate 20. Panic 21. Afraid 22. Self-Harm 23. Bed-bound 24. Dissociate 25. Accident 26. Guilt 27. Pain 28. Captive 29. Dehydration 30. Dizzy 31. Hyperventilation

Alt Prompts List (Text Copy) 1. "Don't leave" 2. "Help me" 3. "Leave me alone" 4. "It's my fault" 5. "Take my hand"

[starjunco]

Whumptober Day 8

Ignis’ head bowed over the stack of papers, the light of the desk lamp washing out his complexion. His hand moved to brush the wisps of hair that had fallen in front of his eyes, gaze never leaving the report in front of him. Ink smudges on his fingers matched the dark circles under his eyes. His mouth was set, corners turned down just enough for Gladio to read the annoyance in them. 

Gladio longed to smooth out the crease between Ignis’ brows with his fingers. Ignis hadn’t turned the page since he appeared in the doorway and Gladio knew enough of the warning signs not to give into his own desires.

Repressing a sigh, Gladio knocked on the door frame of Ignis’ office and ignored the glare shot his way as he walked in. “You know what time it is?”

“I am perfectly aware, thank you.” Ignis’ finger tapped the stack of papers in front of him, the corners of his mouth turning down enough that more than just Gladio could notice his displeasure.

“And the Citadel is going to fall apart if you don’t finish that tonight?” Gladio returned the frown with one of his own. Despite the glare, Ignis’ eyes seemed to have trouble tracking him.

Looking away, Ignis smoothed a hand over the paper stack. “It’s important for Noct to have a proper summary of the last few council meetings.”

Gladio snorted, shaking his head in one sharp movement. “Ebony is not a substitute for sleep.” He looked pointedly at the pile of empty cans in the trash can next to the desk. “You need rest, actual rest.”

Ignis’ glasses caught the light as he adjusted them. “You know that night is the best time for me to compose my thoughts and work on these summaries.”

Gladio snorted again. “And when you lose to me tomorrow because your hands are shaking from lack of sleep?”

Ignis made an aborted movement with one hand, eyeing Gladio over the top of his glasses. “That’s presumptuous of you.”

Gladio said nothing, just leaned forward and stared at Ignis’ hands, trembling slightly where they were pressed against the papers.

A few more beats of silence stretched out between them, then Ignis’ shoulders slumped, a soundless sigh flowing out. “Fine. You’ve made your point.”

“Glad to hear it. I’ll let the night staff know.” Gladio waved as he walked out the way he’d come in, already planning to swing by in a half hour and make sure Ignis had left.