#— ❛❛ // STELLA CAELUM ¦ High

[oathofpromises]

 What Color Does Your Love Feel Like?

                                Warm burnt orange

Riding off into the sunset, the hope of a happy ending, the bitter after taste that still in it's own way smells kinda great. Your love is all bitter hopefulness, all about a broken heart that refuses to quit, all about the unshakable knowledge that a burning fire has a great comforting warm and a soft glowing light, all about the way when the sun comes down there's a beautiful starry night. It's stubbornness, it's the refusal to give up, the clutching of broken shards despite the searing pain and being adamant that dammit you can still make a beautiful stained glass window out of it. Yours is a screaming heart, a pleading love, a bitter and almost belligerent hopefulness that things will still work out even if you have to roll up your sleeves and make them. And god, aren't you tired? Isn't your heart heavy? Is all your hard work worth it? Don't you just want to curl up and let it be? Let the fire turn to ashes and the sky turn dark and let love die down and watch people leave? But you don't, do you? You're the bravest out of all of us, so you pick up the pieces and you keep going, you keep believing and you keep your heart full of hope because some day. Some day you know you'll get it. You keep riding off into the sunset and you keep filling my heart with hope as you go because god, how do I wish you finally get it too.

Tagged by:@knightfeared

Tagging: @diademreigned @hyaciiintho @vierandancer @crystalmarred @petrokhelidon and anyone else that would like to do this just say I tagged you

[starinny]

Space inspired name / pronoun / title set

✦ — 💍 NAME IDEAS

ciel ⸝⸝ star ⸝⸝ starette ⸝⸝ starina ⸝⸝ solar ⸝⸝ moon ⸝⸝ moonette ⸝⸝ luna ⸝⸝ vide ⸝⸝ mercure ⸝⸝ venusiel ⸝⸝ etoile ⸝⸝ stella ⸝⸝ stelos ⸝⸝ orion ⸝⸝ atlus ⸝⸝ regulus ⸝⸝ lyra ⸝⸝ lyrina ⸝⸝ altair ⸝⸝ castor ⸝⸝ cassiopeia ⸝⸝ peia ⸝⸝ astra ⸝⸝ aster ⸝⸝ stellette ⸝⸝ lyrine ⸝⸝ lune ⸝⸝ caelus ⸝⸝ caelum ⸝⸝ caestor ⸝⸝ castiel ⸝⸝ astre ⸝⸝ sirius ⸝⸝ coertoile ⸝⸝ paradis ⸝⸝ galaxia ⸝⸝ stardust

✦ — 💍 PRONOUN IDEAS

sky skies ⸝⸝ star stars ⸝⸝ space spaces ⸝⸝ stell stella ⸝⸝ lune luna ⸝⸝ aster asteroid ⸝⸝ vi vide ⸝⸝ sir sirius ⸝⸝ sol solar ⸝⸝ ci ciel ⸝⸝ as astra ⸝⸝ plan planet ⸝⸝ ven venus ⸝⸝ astro astronomer ⸝⸝ star dusts ⸝⸝ gala galactic ⸝⸝ cons constellation

✦ — 💍 TITLE IDEAS

the heavenly one ⸝⸝ the star ⸝⸝ the astronomer ⸝⸝ the stargazer ⸝⸝ space's guardian ⸝⸝ {she} who birthed the stars ⸝⸝ the one made of stardust ⸝⸝ the planetary protector ⸝⸝ space's creation ⸝⸝ the constellation ⸝⸝ {her} intergalactic highness ⸝⸝ darling of the planets

No need to credit the heroic one if yuu use these ~ !!

[plutobutartsy]

more shared custody au hehe (part 3)

no i didn't forget about this au

part 1

gavin works as a nurse!! he's really good with people and especially old people at the hospital love him. a lot of them try to set him up with their kids/grandkids but they also just enjoy chewing his ear off while he washes them and stuff. he just puts people at ease :)

he's lowkey overworking himself, taking on extra shifts and jumping in for his coworkers when he can. vega doesn't like to admit it but he does get worried sometimes, especially after gavin takes on more responsibilities with school events

vega is a chef! he used to work at a really high end restaurant but he got sick of the attitude everyone there had. employers were arrogant and looked down on the staff, same with most of the customers. even though he didn't have much direct contact with customers, he still noticed how his coworkers were treated and it made him so unbelievably angry

now he works at a small family owned restaurant and he really enjoys working there

the family in question are the greers (stella try not to make everything about the shaw pack challenge FAILED), marie took it over from her parents. tank, david and asher have all worked there part time at some point and still help out on busy days if they can.

milo works there full time. he does a bit of everything; waiting, cooking, cleaning, delivering, whatever needs to be done. he also takes on security gigs from david from time to time

marie's restaurant is the type of well hidden secret that the locals try to gatekeep from tourists lol

vega loves working there so much and he's gotten really attached to the entire shaw pack but specifically marie like, he would kill for her. he tries to hide it but they all know, it's an unspoken rule to act like they don't. marie ignores this rule.

this goes without saying but of course vega is amazing at cooking. gavin always has caelum bring home a container with leftovers.

as much as caelum loves vega's amazing cooking, when asked what he wants for dinner he ALWAYS asks for dino chicken nuggets and it lowkey kills vega

vega comes over to gavin's place to meal prep when he can under the guise of making sure that caelum gets proper meals but he really does it to take some weight off of gavin's shoulders (again, he worries about gavin)

gavin isn't the best cook, he knows how to make a few basic meals and they don't taste bad but they're not amazing either. but they have that home made charm, it's like you can taste how much effort and love he puts into cooking meals for his loved ones

to make up for his average cooking skills he actually gets pretty good at baking after all those bake sales! when he drops caelum off at vega's place he also drops off a bunch of baked treats for vega specifically, to repay him for meal prepping.

vega doesn't like most sweet things so gavin mostly makes savory stuff for him

for vega's and pet's first proper date (because vega doesn't accept grabbing coffee together can be considered a proper date), he cooked pet their favourite childhood meal

pet teared up a little from the thoughtfulness and vega almost had a heart attack

huxley is a tattoo artist and helps coach the local highschool's football team in his free time

him and damien have matching tattoos that he designed (hnggg idk what yet but i'll come up with something lol also open for ideas :))

huxley has SO MANY tattoos, including, but not limited to: a frog on a skateboard, a bunch of dandelions, "love you" (twice, in both of his moms' handwriting), a birtday cake, a little ghost dude, damien's birth date and a bunch of lemons

caelum likes to colour huxley's tattoos in when he and damien babysit

i'm not set yet on what damien does for a living, i can see him being a professional photographer tbh but he also seems like somebody who'd have a regular office job? ahhhh i don't know

[lunarlegend]

CHARACTER SHEET INFORMATION:

Date Sheet Was Completed: 08/12/2023

Verse In Which The Character Is In: Final Fantasy XV

BASIC INFORMATION:

Name: Stella Maris

Meaning of Name/Story Behind It: Latin for 'Star of the Sea'

Gender: Female

Pronouns: She/her

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Age: 14 during FFXV Brotherhood, 18 during the main story, 28 during Chapter 14

Birthday: February 23

Zodiac Sign: Pisces Sun/Aries Moon/Sagittarius Rising

Birthplace: Lestallum, Lucis

Currently Lives: in Lestallum or Insomnia, depending on the time in the story

Nationality: Lucian

Relationship Status: Taken

Language Spoken and Native Language: Japanese

FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FOES:

Immediate Family: Salvia Maris (her mother)

Distant Family: Noctis Lucis Caelum (cousin), Regis Lucis Caelum (uncle)

In Contact with Parents?: Yes, until her mother was killed

Upbringing: Happy childhood, loving and supportive mom

Siblings: None

Children: A daughter named Lucina (born when Stella is 28)

Best Friend(s): Noctis Lucis Caelum, Prompto Argentum

Other Friends: Iris Amicitia

Pets: A cat named Pluvia, and several opossums

Enemy(s): Ardyn Lucis Caelum

Why Are They Their Enemy(s)?: Bad blood, he killed her mom and wants to kill her cousin (etc., etc.)

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:

Species: Human

Facial Type: Youthful

Eye Color: Aquamarine

Hair Color: Burgundy

Hair Styles: Either in a messy ponytail/bun or tied back with a bow. Her hair sticks out in large jagged curls no matter how she styles it or how much gel she uses

Skin Tone: Peachy

Complexion: Fair

Makeup: She doesn't wear any

Body Type: Slim

Build: Petite

Height: 5'2"

Tattoos: None

Piercings: Three in each earlobe

Birthmarks and Scars: A scar across her nose and extending up her left cheek after her encounter with Ardyn; burn scars on her upper back from the same encounter

Distinguishing Features: A big forehead, eyes that curve downwards, and high eyebrows (she has a very innocent look)

HEALTH AND MENTAL:

Blood Type: B (based on Japanese blood type traits)

Health Level: High

Energy Level: Very high

Memory: Good but scattered

Physical Disabilities: Permanent residual pain/stiffness in her left shoulder from when it was dislocated in the aftermath of the event that caused her mom's death

Phobias: Fire

Mental Disorders: ADHD, PTSD

Smoker: No

Drinker: Occasionally

Drug Use: None

STYLE AND GROOMING:

Usual Style: Sporty

How They Style Their Clothes: Casually

Grooming: Takes good care of her skin and hair

Posture: She leans and slouches a lot

Habits and Mannerisms: The D: expression, standing too close to people, putting her hands on her hips when she's confused or trying to process information

Scent: Peppermint

MOOD:

What Mood Would You Catch Them In: Either angry, confused, or excited, and almost nothing in between

Attitude: Generally positive, but she can be a brat

Mood Stability: Like flipping a light switch

Expressiveness: She is expressive to the extreme; you can tell exactly how she's feeling just by looking at her face

How Are They When Happy: Ecstatic, will yell and jump around and make a lot of physical contact

How Are They When Sad: Will mope and shut herself away; she sees her sadness as a weakness

How Are They When Angry: Loud and destructive, but usually harmless (like a feral kitten)

ITEMS AND THINGS:

Wardrobe (Describe Their Closet): Lots of shorts, tank tops, and big baggy sweatshirts. Most of her clothes are black, navy blue, or gray

Equipment: Giant warhammer?

Accessories: A big black bow in her hair (when she's younger she wears a white bow with green stripes)

Funds: Technically endless, since she's related to royalty (she doesn't spend a lot of money though, and usually forgets she even has access to it)

Neighborhood: Either the laidback streets of Lestallum or the busy streets of Insomnia

Transportation: She travels on foot in Lestallum, and either by foot or on the subway in Insomnia (or Ignis drives her because Stella is a terrible driver)

Prized Possession: Her brooch that her mother gave her

SEX:

Lovers: Ignis Scientia, Gladiolus Amicitia

Marital Status: Married to Ignis at the age of 30

Sex Life: Very good

Their Type: People whose buttons she can easily push

Position (Dom/Sub): Sub

Virginity: Lost it to Ignis when she was 18

CAREER AND EDUCATION:

Occupation: Crownsguard member, Kingsglaive member, former barista

High School: The same public school that Noctis and Prompto attended in Insomnia

Work Ethic: Very high; she puts a lot of effort into her job and takes pride in what she does

Organizations/Affiliations: Kingdom of Lucis

IQ:

Grades: Barely passed her classes in school

Social Stereotypes: Known for her playful mischief and as a natural leader to the neighborhood kids during her childhood in Lestallum; known as a problem child with violent tendencies after coming to Insomnia (due to her trauma that resulted in the move)

Special Education (Held Back, Honor Role, etc.): Ignis tutored her through most of high school so she wouldn't flunk out

Intelligence: She is a dumbass

IDEOLOGIES:

Morals: Generally good; she is honest and hard-working and has a lot of compassion for most people

Motivation: Revenge at first; loyalty to her King in the end

Priorities: In the beginning: finding the person who killed her mom. By the end: keeping her friends safe from harm and protecting the people of Lucis from daemons

Crime Record: …So many. When she first came to Insomnia after her mom's death, Stella dealt with her grief in the form of anger and she was very violent--biting, throwing rocks, and even shoving someone down the stairs. She was never formally charged due to her ties to the Royal Family, but an ordinary kid would probably have been sent away. She also has a habit of inadvertently causing property damage when she's older

Etiquette: She is very polite in social situations, and especially when visiting other people's houses or spending time with other people's parents

Influences: Stella looked up to Nyx quite a bit and became determined to make it into the Kingsglaive one day so she could be like him (and it makes sense that his reckless heroism would appeal to her)

HOPES, DREAMS, AND FAILURES:

Main Goal: In the beginning: to avenge her mother. In the end: to support Noctis while he brings the Dawn

Minor Goals/Ambitions: To stand out amongst the Glaives as a top hunter, and to help reclaim Lucis so she can settle into a peaceful life with her loved ones

Dream Career: Kingsglaive (does that count as a career?)

Desires/Wants: To never lose anyone she cares about again, to make a difference in the world and fix what's been broken, to travel freely in the sunlight again

Shopping Wishlist: Whatever new hobby she picked up this week, and so much cereal

Accomplishments: Became a member of the Crownsguard against all odds, proved herself worthy enough to join the Kingsglaive, and survived the Ten Years of Darkness

Greatest Achievement: Helping to reclaim the Crown City and bring the Dawn without losing her cousin

Biggest Failure: (in her mind) Not being able to avenge her mother, not being able to protect Ignis, not being as physically strong as she wants to be

Secrets: She cries sometimes when she's alone

Regrets: So many things she wishes she'd told her mom

Worries: That the world will never return to normal

Best Dream (Non-Sleep): The Dawn has come, and everyone she loves is alive

Worst Nightmare (Non-Sleep): Losing the people closest to her, failing as a Glaive

Best Memories: Her childhood in Lestallum, the times her mother would bring her to the Crown City to visit Ignis and Noctis, the roadtrip she spent with her friends

Worst Memories: The day her mother died (she has PTSD from this)

STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, AND OTHERS:

Strengths: Kindness, tenacity, and the ability to survive

Mental Weakness: Her grief; she will not admit how much it affects her

Flaws: Impulsivity, anger, immaturity

Perception: The glass is half full, things can always get better

Conflicts: None so large that they would affect her friendships

Instincts: Fight, always

Lures: Stella will do anything for pancakes

Soft Spot: She will also do anything for Ignis

Cruel Streak: None, she can't stay angry for long

FANTASY ELEMENTS:

Powers: Water

Ability: Healing

Physical Weakness: Fire

FAVORITES:

Colors: All shades of blue

Animals: Opossums, cats, fish and other sea creatures

Mythological Creatures: Siren or Mermaid

Places: Anywhere her friends are

Flavors: Anything sweet (and lots of processed sugars)

Foods: Pancakes, cereal, breakfast items in general, and seafood dishes (especially crab and other shellfish)

Drinks: Soda, tea, and gas station slushies

Genre: Horror, action

Books: Her book of fairytales from when she was a kid

Games: Fighting games, racing games, anything competitive

Music: Pop, rock bands with female singers

Subjects: P.E.

LEAST FAVORITES:

Colors: Yellows, oranges, browns

Animals: N/A (she loves animals)

Mythological Creatures: N/A

Places: The Empire

Flavors: She dislikes bitter foods and drinks

Foods: Most vegetables (especially greens), tofu

Drinks: Coffee (she will drink it, but only if it's loaded with milk and sugar)

Genre: Dramas or non-fiction (they don't hold her attention)

Books: Textbooks

Games: Anything too text-heavy or that she can't play with her friends

Music: Slow songs or acoustics

Subjects: Everything besides P.E.

SOUND, VOICE, AND OTHERS:

Languages: Japanese

Voice: Young, a bit high-pitched, prone to yelling when she's excited

State of Mind: Carefree

Laughter: Loud and contagious

Tag Line: She's an idiot, your honor

Signature Quote: "Oh, whoa." D:

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:

Overall Reputation: Dependable and sincere, but relentless when she fights

First Impressions: People tend to underestimate her or mistake her for a kid

Stranger Impressions: Cute but possibly dangerous

Friendly Impressions: Fun, reliable, and predictable

Enemy Impressions: Grating, annoying, gets in the way

Familiar Impressions: Loving, loyal, and trustworthy

ALIGNMENTS AND MISC.:

One Word: Chaos

(source for the questions can be found here. i left out any that didn't apply to her or that i wasn't comfortable answering for her.)

[berryshallbe]

KHRbookmark4

[Part1], [Part2], [Part3], [Part4]

Okie last list of recs for this fandom hopefully.

#ONESHOTS

The Eldritch Sky by BookQueen04 [eldritch!27]

Not Just Another Icarus by Bleach_ed_Na_tsu [just the 10thgen parkour-ing]

a rose by any other name (would taste just as bitter) by heyimflamel [eldritch!27]

Two Halves of a Whole — Chapter 2&3: Failed Assassination Attempts!AU: 10th Generation by Little_Miss_Bunny [Civvy!27, All27?]

Care and Trust by Jenny1751 [27-got-trustissues]

Combined Bloodlines by FallenQueen2 [werewolf!27]

evaporate by sear [mist!77, threeshots]

The Lies We Tell to Make the World a Better Place by Mizuki99

A Switch In Time Saves Seven by Heir to the Sky [timetrav]

Daybreaks are beautiful by halcyonranhuer

Apathy by AutumnsFey [model!27, Iemitsu-bashing]

Flowers and Explosions Don't Go Together by zegez [27-not-decimo, gardener!27, twoshots]

#HPXOVER

In The End by MufuMufuSan [ghostlykinda!Hari, dimenstrav]

Wrong Sky to Ground the Flighty by EXION [reincarnated, Hari-is-18's lilbro]

Death's Gambit by Shadowblayze [sibling!fic, fem!Hari, reincarnation, Hari-is-Tsuna’s sis] !!!

Game On! by nordiamus [twin!fic, Hari-is-Tsuna’s sis, Rfem!Hari, gamer!AU] !!!

In This Balance of Time by Eirenei [FSN/FZ/HP/KHR quad-over, Sky!Hari, PreArco Era]!!!

Prince Belphegor's Guide To Parenting by AllThingsVaria and the sequel: Princess Hel's Guide to School [Fem!Hari, Hari raised by Bel]

Under Wing by reighost [Hari-is-Hibari]

La mia Stella, Il tuo Sole, Il nostro Cielo by CaptivatingLadySpinel [Rfem!Hari]

#MISCELLENOUS

Bonds Across Time by sakurademonalchemist [InuyashaXover, fem!27, 1827, timetrav]

Spirit Fire by sakurademonalchemist [ Yu Yu HakushoXover, fem!27, Yusuke-is-Tsuna's Aniki, Kurama27]

Sight Unseen by sakurademonalchemist [Natsume YujinXover, fem!27, Tsuna-is-Natsume, SkyArc!27]

Breaking the Guilded Cage by sakurademonalchemist [Natsume YujinXover, fem!27, Tsuna-is-Natsume, 27Natori]

Of Cities and Countries by Celeste_Sinclair [hetaliaXover, Tsuna-is-Namimori, twin!fic]

Ramblings of a Tired High School Sky by AliceKumori [R2718, fem!27, blogger!27, highschool!AU, GenZ 10th gen]

Everything Is Going To Be Alright by Sir Butt [Threeshots, ArcoSky!27]

With all due respect, sir (meaning none) by Nobodystormcrow [SI!Basil, BelBas, triple reincarnation reallife|naruto|khr] !!!

The Price of Fish by fringeperson [fem!27, X2718]

Contritum Caelum by 27x18 [fem!27, twin!fic, siblingbond!1002701, 1st gen]

Wide Open Sky by 27x18 [0027, fem!27, threeshots]

Cielo Perduto by 27x18 [All27?, fem!27, betrayal!fic]

You Can Mend My Broken Bones by Breakable Dolls [Threeshots, Tsuna-can-sew]

The Five Star Chef Decimo by JoyRinko (Joythea) [Threeshots, reincarnation, Quatro-is-Tsuna]

The stars incline us by bluegrass [TokyoghoulXover, Arcosky!Kaneki, PreArcobaleno]

Sometimes, The Sky Is Meant To Be Reached. (It's Never) by KainCrow [Kawahiracentric] !!!

Myths Among the Mafia by moonlightcarol [PJOXover, Twoshots, whos adopting who?]

Hell is Empty, All the Devils are Here by slyfoxcub [abused!27&10thGen, dark fic]

The Godly Sky by DCJoKeRHS [Sky!77, All27, multi-sky types!27] !!!

Flames of a Night Sky by sakurademonalchemist [MagicalGirl LyricalNanohaXover , variafamchaos, Tsuna-gets-Adopted]

Door to Destiny by sakurademonalchemist [kingdom heartsxover]

The Fire-Eyed Princess by sakurademonalchemist [Tsukihimexover, Arcueid-is-77, fem!27]

Breaking the Sky by sakurademonalchemist [dragondriveXover, fem!27]

Heart of the Soul by sakurademonalchemist [ghosthuntXover, fem!27-is-Mai, sibling!fic]

Blades of an Unlimited Sky by sakurademonalchemist [FSNXover, Shirou-is-Tsuna]!!!

Champion of Ouranos by sakurademonalchemist [fem!27-is-Haruka, timetrav, SailormoonXover]

Witchy Decimo by Music_Feeds_My_Soul [supernatural!AU, Witch!27, gore]

[secret-engima]

@hamelin-born

*kicks down door* Okay so I’m so sorry you’ve had a bad week, and since I am physically incapable of coming over and giving you a hug, I shall give you bby Dionysus being adorable with his (dead)relatives and Deleantur getting shipped by the local Galahdian bear woman instead!

...

     The man shrugged and played with the edge of his cloak, “You may call me Herodotus. Or,” he added when he saw Dionysus’s face screw up at the long name —so many of his dream relatives had such long names that were hard—, “you can just call me Wander.”

     “Wander?”

     The soft smile grew bigger, mischievous, “It’s a nickname. I’ve never really been the kind of person to stay in one place for very long. Will that suit, Little Traveller?”

     Dionysus mouthed the word, then nodded, “Wander.” He looked around them in curiosity, at the glowing flowers and living magic lights and trees bigger than buildings, “Where are we?”

     “One of my memories,” Wander answered as he leaned back against the tree trunk, “my … safe place I suppose. Though I have had many over the years, this one was my first, so I suppose it is my favorite.”

     “But where?” He’d never seen anything like this outside of storybooks. He wanted to go see it for himself when he woke up next.

     Wander shook his head and looked amused, “I’m sorry, Little Traveler, but this is not a place you can find on Eos.” Dionysus stared at him with big eyes and Wander leaned in with a whisper and a gesture at his cloak, “When I was younger, I met a wonderful group of people who liked to travel as much as I did, and they showed me many things. Some of those were places that you could not, and will never, find on any map of Eos.”

     Dionysus leaned closer, “Like the story of the magic rock that secretly led t’ the world of Hiso Hiso al’ens?”

     Wander’s eyes glittered and his magic that draped around them felt like delighted laughter, “Just like that, yes. But my doorway wasn’t a rock.”

     Dionysus looked all around in awe. He was in a secret world just like in the stories! Or the memory of a secret world anyway. He looked back over at Wander, “Did you fight an evil copy of your frien’? Did the copy try t’ de- delete the whole world ‘till you an’ Serah stopped it an’ saved all the Hiso Hiso?”

     Wander’s shoulders shook a little, then stilled, “No. Nothing quite so exciting. But I did meet a woman with cat ears and a tail, and we did become good friends.” Dionysus gasped in excitement, and when Wander stood up and held out his hand, Dionysus took it without hesitation, “Come on,” Wander chuckled, “I’m afraid I cannot show you any aliens or evil copies, but I can show you a few other places I’ve been that no one on Eos will find.”

     And he did. A few steps into the woods and the trees all turned to hills of sand and shimmering waves of sunny heat. Strange creatures with humps on their backs plodded slowly by in the distance, and in front of them was a tower that reached up to the sky all by itself. Wander told him that it was a dungeon, and that anyone who managed to reach the treasure at the very top would become a king and get magic of their very own. Dionysus asked him if he’d ever done it, if he had dungeon magic, but Wander shook his head and said he already had magic, so he’d let a friend take it instead. They plodded their way through a few shifting steps of sand and suddenly they were out of the hot sand and on an island in the sky. There was a strange ceiling high-high-high above their heads, and Wander told him that this was not one floating island, but a hundred of them all stacked on top of each other, each one just a bit smaller than the last so they didn’t block out all the sunlight for the levels below. Dragons swooped off in the distance, and when Wander led him to the edge and held him tight so he wouldn’t fall, Dionysus leaned over and saw nothing but thick clouds drifting below them.

     They stepped back and the world became an ocean. They stood on the wooden deck of a ship and around them was bright blue water and flapping sails and before them was some kind of creature so big it was an island, it’s long legs plodding slowly through the sea with trees and buildings on its back. Wander told him that talking animals lived on the back of the big creature, and that very few people could find the island unless they were born there because it was always moving. He led Dionysus below decks and then they were on an island with a tree growing in the middle that was so tall and so big it had another, much smaller island sitting in its branches. The air tingled with old-friendly-amused magic that felt like laughter and mysteries, and Wander told him that this was the island of fairies.

     He showed Dionysus a bunch of places, each one different and strange and amazing, each one with a little story to go with it that made Dionysus want desperately to know and explore more until the next one came and he wanted to see that one instead. Wander held his hand the whole time, steady and sure, making sure he never got lost or stepped too close to something dangerous. It was amazing and weird and exciting, and Dionysus decided he liked Wander a lot. Wander was different from the others, even Grandma Crepera. He didn’t seem to have any questions, and he didn’t mind answering all of Dionysus’s. He wasn’t grumpy, or loud, and there was … something about him. About his soft voice and the look in his eyes that reminded Dionysus of his dad.

... (And here’s Deleantur!)

     He sensed someone approach through the outskirts of the crowd. Not that it was easy to miss someone as big as Chief Ligeia considering she stood a head taller than most of the other people here. He tipped his chin to her in greeting as she came to a stop next to him, a mug of something that smelled like alcohol in one hand. She grinned at him, all teeth and good humor, “Going to just watch? Or are you going to go have some fun?”

     Deleantur shrugged and went back to crowd-watching, “I am having fun.” It wasn’t a lie, he found it both fascinating and entertaining to watch the party unfold before him. Galahdians weren’t all that different from the mainland in how they celebrated, but there were differences that were interesting to see. For one thing, there was a lot more dancing and singing. Even people taking a break at the makeshift feasting tables were all but dancing on the benches, feet tapping, heads bobbing- there was never a moment of stillness even from the groups lingering on the outskirts of the party to talk rather than dance.

     The dances themselves were a lot more vibrant and energetic too. There were no royal waltzes here, but circle dances that dragged everyone nearby into them, or spinning dances where partners traded off at dizzying speeds. There was also a vaguely alarming number of somersaults, backflips, and instances of people climbing up trees and rubble like squirrels to better perform an acrobatic flip in time to the music, and not just from the children and the teenagers. He half suspected that the only reason the Elders weren’t doing such stunts were because they were physically too old and arthritic to pull it off.

    Chief Ligeia scoffed, “Just watching is never fun. You should go out there and dance. Don’t want Stella to think you’re ignoring her, do you?”

     Deleantur blinked at her, then glanced into the crowd where Stella was currently spinning and flipping in time with her little brother Eventus like some kind of circus performance rather than a dance for a party, “She knows where to find me if she needs me.”

     Chief Ligeia slapped one of his shoulders hard enough that he had to bite back a hiss, “Not the point. You should be out there dancing with her. It’s good for young people like you two.” Deleantur gave her the flattest look he could manage and barely refrained from telling her that he was currently two thousand years removed from his date of birth —though that distance was technically in reverse—, even if he only looked to be twenty-six. But that wasn’t something he told anyone, especially not a party-happy stranger. Chief Ligeia rolled her eyes, utterly undisturbed by his look, and slapped his shoulder again in an effort to get him moving, “Go on.”

     Deleantur raised an eyebrow and didn’t budge, “Why do you care?”

     The Behemoth of a woman took a long drink from her mug, then answered blithely, “Because Candor is my second cousin and Stella is the best niece I ever had and I want her to be happy. You dancing with her will make her happy. So,” the woman moved with astonishing speed, so fast even Deleantur’s instincts and borrowed experience couldn’t stop her from bodily lifting him by the back of his tunic with one hand and all but toss him into the flow of the crowd, “go dance with her!” Deleantur staggered into the crowd, trying to catch his balance, then yelped as his hands were snatched up by a passing dancer and he was pulled into the flow.

... (and here, have a long snip of Buckler too)

     They camped on the nearest Haven for the night, and Axis cooked dinner without comment while Nox fussed over his uncle and the redhead just sighed and complained about losing his shirts. He listened to them bicker, watched the way their shoulders slowly relaxed the longer Axis went without recoiling from them or acting afraid, and came to a decision. It was a reckless one, a stupid one even but … but it felt like the right one. He hadn’t asked about what happened, or how Ardyn had magic, but he knew what he’d seen and so did they. He knew not just one, but two of their greatest secrets now —that Nox was a Lucis Caelum, that Ardyn was a Lucis Caelum and couldn’t die—.

     In the morning, before they could wander off into the wilderness again, Axis invited —ordered— them to come with him to Meldacio HQ. The two exchanged nervous glances before obediently following him on the trek up to the Vesperpool area.

     If his wife was surprised when Axis turned up a week later with not just Nox in tow, but Niflheim’s Chancellor, she didn’t show it. She just smiled and welcomed them into their tiny house with a gesture and a promise of dinner soon. Nox’s eyes were wide as they shuffled in and Axis had known Ardyn long enough to spot the nervous edge in his sweeping bow.

     Both of them went totally still when they spotted the playpen taking up most of the living room floor, filled with ratty stuffed toys that Axis had either purchased from Outposts or had been gifted by members of his, Tredd’s, and Luche’s Clans. Inside the playpen, Axis’s triplets —his treasures, his children, his greatest and most precious secrets— cooed and babbled eagerly at Axis, waving their hands and crawling around. His last visit hadn’t been that long ago, and they remembered him —the fact that he had been gone for long enough stretches when they were smaller that he’d been a stranger to them would always hurt—. Venia, his smallest and boldest, spotted Nox and Ardyn and babbled at them, fearlessly crawling up to the edge of the playpen to look at them. Axis reached in and picked her up, kissing her forehead and tickling her stomach with a hand to hear her laugh before turning to watch Nox’s and Ardyn’s reactions.

     Nox was still staring at Historia and Spiritus in the playpen, a bright-eyed look on his face and a shiver of power in the air that felt protective. He looked at them like any of Axis’s remaining clan did, or how Tredd and Luche had first looked at them. Awe and protectiveness and already blooming adoration. Axis glanced at Ardyn.

     Ardyn was staring at Venia, and the look on his face took Axis’s breath away. There was pure, open adoration there, wonder and a bright-edged fear, like just being near her would be enough to break her. Venia spotted Ardyn staring, dressed in all his clashing layers and colors, and giggled at him. She had never been afraid of strangers, and she didn’t hesitate to flail her hands in his direction, babbling with all the energy of a healthy nine month old. Ardyn flinched faintly away, even though her hands were nowhere near him, his own hands curling shyly inside his long sleeves like he was terrified of touching her.

     Something in Axis’s heart broke a little.

     No one as unexpectedly kind as Ardyn should fear being near a child.

     “Her name is Venia,” Axis murmured, “that’s her sister Historia, and her brother Spiritus.”

     “They’re so little.” Nox cooed as he crouched just outside the playpen, watching the two babies who stared back with far less fearless curiosity than their sister had —but not outright fear, Axis wondered if they too could feel Nox’s magic swelling around the room, rumbling with protective and already loving emotions—. Porrima reappeared at Axis’s elbow, reaching past him to pluck Spiritus out of the playpen. She gave their guests a considering look, then calmly reached out and plopped their son into Nox’s arms. Nox’s grip tensed, but his arms shifted into a proper position with a speed that looked instinctive, “Hey, wait-!”

     Porrima ignored Nox’s breathless squawk and Spiritus’s wary coo, just picked up Historia and turned to face Ardyn, who had gone stiff as a board and deathly white, “Madam,” Ardyn said tensely, “I don’t think-.”

     “Are you going to hurt them?” Porrima asked.

     Ardyn’s jaw tightened, “Never, but I don’t-.”

     “Are your arms so weak you’ll drop her?”

     “No, but-.”

     “Are you sick?”

     Ardyn shook his head but kept shying subtly back, “I-.”

     Axis sighed at his wife as she exchanged Historia for Venia, then turned and fearlessly stepped into Ardyn’s space to put their boldest daughter in the arms of Niflheim’s Chancellor —and the king’s unknown relative—. Ardyn went stone still as soon as Venia was in his arms, hands cradling her like she was fragile as glass and his eyes huge. Axis bounced Historia in his arms a little as he scolded, “Porrima. Don’t force them to hold the children if they don’t want to.”

     “But they do want to, and it’s good for the triplets to meet new safe people,” his wife sniffed back. Then she flitted back to the kitchen without waiting to see the fallout of her actions.

     Sometimes his wife trusted his judgement and choice of houseguests a little too much.

     Axis sidled closer to Ardyn and held out an arm, “I can take her back if this really makes you uncomfortable.”

     Ardyn stared down at Venia with the roundest eyes Axis had ever seen. Venia blinked up at her new handler, looked over at her dad, then looked back at Ardyn and clumsily patted his cheek, grabbing curiously at his red-violet hair a moment later. Ardyn inhaled, and Axis felt a second magic flood the room, old and powerful and monstrously protective. Where Nox’s was deep like the ocean, powerful but … subtle, like currents under the surface, Ardyn’s magic felt wild. It felt like the ripple of spotted fur in the jungle, the glimpse of fangs and teeth of a feral beast. Nox’s protective adoration of the little boy he was bouncing in his arms was like the pull of the tide, sweeping in and out with each breath, but Ardyn’s-. Ardyn’s was the rumble of a Coeurl’s purr as it curled around its cub, the singing edge of bloody steel, promising death to anyone that so much as looked wrong at Axis’s triplets.

     Ardyn very slowly sank down onto the floor, legs crossed to form a lap for Venia to flop on, and when he looked up at Axis, his normally blue eyes were a brilliant, Coeurl gold, “They’re beautiful.” He whispered hoarsely.

[devilhacker]

FFXV Remake Ideas Part 3: Party Members

Note: There are two type party members, Permanent and Guest. 

Permanent party members will follow you throughout the story. You can level up, customize, and control them during battle. However they cannot be control for travel with the exception of Stella who will take the role of Protagonist at some point.

Guest, just like in old FFXV, will act on their own with heir level and equipment is already fixed. They also only available on certain missions. Player however still can make link-strike and use their bar abilities during battle.

PERMANENT PARTY MEMBERS

1) STELLA NOX FLEURET

*Stella’s original appearance

*Stella’s possible image in FFXV.

*Sarah. Main inspiration for Stella’s abilities and personality.

Age: 21, 31 (Post WoD -if alive-), 49 (True Ending Epilogue -if alive-).

Occupation: Princess of Tenebrae, Oracle (later in game).

Class: Combat White Mage

Combat Style: Rapier and White Magic.  Very High MP.

Skill: To be determined

Possible Love Interest: Noctis Lucis Caelum

Available: During Imperial attack on Insomnia

Profile:  Stella had an honest and polite attitude, though a bit naive and clumsy. She was assertive and true to her beliefs due to her upbringing. She was direct and did not shy away from her problems, as opposed to Noctis, who is more reserved. 

Note: She will completely replace Luna as a heroine and hero’s main love interest. Most of her abilites and personality here was inspired from Sarah, guest character from (Terra Worlds). Not gonna lie I love her chemistry with Noctis, which in my opinion is more logical and sensible than Luna. 

Unlike Luna, she only revealed as Oracle later in the game

And depends on Noctis’s interraction and how far she took her role as Oracle, she will either give up her life or fought to change her destiny

2) ARANEA HIGHWIND

Age: 30, 40 (Post WoD), 58 (True Ending Epilogue).

Occupation: Commodore of Nilfheim Empire (later defect)

Class: Dragoon

Combat Style: Spear and Air Combat. Strong physical attack

Skill: Trap Setting. 

Possible Love Interest: Gladiolus Amicitia

Available: After Noctis and co. raid on Imperial fortress. 

Profile: Known as one of the Nilfheim’s fearsome general, Aranea raised in a slum of Gralea by her father, a low-rank officer who perished during the Great War. Her father’s demised motivate her to join the Imperial Army. Initially known for her loyalty,  Aranea starting to doubts about the empire's devotion to its daemonic research.

Note: Beatrix (FF9) and Celes (FF6) was main inspiration for her backstory. Her father is my own idea, and the main reason for her conlfict with Cor later. Biggs and Wedge is still her subordinate. And like in the game, she strongly opposed the daemonic research, the reason why her unit only consist of human. 

Her skill is actually one of the planned skills for FFXV but later removed. It can trap a monster when applied using proper equipment. If successful, it will leave a drop item of that monster. The higher its get, the strongest the monster it can trap.

3) CIDNEY AURUM

Age: 26, 36 (Post WoD), 54 (True Ending Epilogue).

Occupation: Mechanics

Class: Machinist

Combat Style: Stun gun and Drone Combat. Control drone from afar.

Skill: Airship management 

Possible Love Interest: Prompto Argentum

Available: During search for an airship

Profile: Having lost her parents at a young age, Cindy grew up under her grizzled grandfather Cid's tutelage. She inherited his avid love for automobiles and quickly proved herself to be a more-than-capable mechanic. Her stellar reputation draws customers from all across the continent. No matter how terrible their automobile troubles, drivers come in for a tune-up and leave with a smile.

Note: Cidney is just one of the wasted characters from FFXV. If you play attention, she contribute too much in the game but everyone only seen her as an eye-candy. This idea will put more on her character development like how she deal with her parents loss and Prompto’s treachery. Her combat style is quite similar to V (dmc5) in which you control combat drone from afar.

As for her skills, you can customized and upgrade your airship if you talk to her. The more skillful she become, the more better equipment can be applied on your ship

4) IRIS AMICITIA

Age: 15, 25 (Post WoD), 43 (True Ending Epilogue).

Occupation: High-School Students, later Crownsguard

Class: Monk

Combat Style: Martial Arts and certain white magic. High Evasion rate.

Skill: Clothing Design

Possible Love Interest: Noctis Lucis Caelum

Available: After Noctis and co. arrived at Cape Caem

Profile: Daughter of House Amicitia and Gladiolus' younger sister by eight years. Her family's closeness with the crown brought her into contact with Noctis at a young age, and the two became fast friends. She has harbored an innocent crush on Noctis since she was a little girl, but in her heart, Iris knows her fantasy can never become reality, or so she thought....

Note: Her feelings for Noct is similar as Tifa to Cloud. Unlike Cloud however Noct never seen her beyond “little sister” though that feelings may change later after his return from a long slumber. Her combat is similar to Tifa from VII Remake although due to her size, some of her skils required Gladio’s presence to be work perfectly.

She can create costume. The costume she create is only for looks. It didnt have any stats.

5) RAVUS NOX FLEURET

Age: 28, 38 (Post WoD -if alive-), 56 (True Ending Epilogue -if alive-).

Occupation: Prince of Tenebrae,  High Commander of the Imperial Army

Class: Dark Knight

Combat Style: Saber and dark magic. 

Skill: To be determined.

Possible Love Interest: To be determined

Available: After Noctis and co. arrived at Accordo.

Profile: Eldest son of House Fleuret, Blood of the Oracle, and older brother to Lady Lunafreya. His mother was burned alive in the fires that burned Tenebrae twelve years ago. Blaming the "cowardly" King Regis for her death, Ravus capitulated to his new imperial overlords and joined their ranks. His involvement with the Empire is the reason Stella embark a journey in order to free him and their Kingdom.

Note: Yes. There’s a quite upside down here. In FFXV, he joined the empire to save Luna. In here, Stella trying to free him from the Empire. Depending on his interraction with Noctis and Ignis; and Stella’s story, he either live until the end or died sacrificing himself.

(to be continued)

[phoenix-downer]

What are your thoughts about Yozora and Sora? Do you think that they're alternate versions of one another or is it something else? And do you think that Kairi may have been the person who told Yozora about Sora since he mentioned that someone told him to "save Sora" and Kairi's been in the Realm of Sleep for a year?

I’m not entirely sure what to think about the parallels they share, to be honest. Yozora looks more like Noctis and Riku than Sora, so that’s throwing me off. I definitely think he and Sora must be connected somehow, and I think it’s really interesting that they share similar names. 

Sora = sky and Yozora = night sky, and of course, night sky has a similar meaning to Noctis (Lucis) Caelum of FFXV fame, Noctis being related to the night and Caelum meaning the sky. And, of course, Noctis was originally set to appear in Versus XIII, which was Nomura’s baby before it was turned into FFXV and given to Tabata so that Nomura could focus on getting KH3 out the door. 

Somebody pointed out that Yozora has Nobody earrings or something, so I’ve seen the theory floating around that he’s Noctis’s Nobody? Who knows at this point. Someone else pointed out to me that Yozora has a skull and crossbones on his jacket, which are associated with death, and if we dig into XIII lore a little, guess which goddess is associated with death?

Etro. 

Now, the XIII series and Versus XIII, as well as Type-0, were all supposed to have a shared lore and mythology, called the Fabula Nova Crystallis, even though it was expressed in different ways. I haven’t played Type-0 (yet), but I have played the entire XIII series, so I can speculate a little based on the form of the Fabula Nova Crystallis mythos that we saw in that. 

I think there’s a high chance Yozora is a servant of the goddess Etro, or has powers tied to hers, either because she has gifted him those powers directly (which we’ve seen her do before, for example, with Serah, Yeul, and Lightning in the XIII universe) or because a Fal’Cie (demigod) has given Yozora some sort of focus, or task he must complete. Anyone who gets a task like this is called a L’Cie, and Yozora may be his universe’s version of a L’Cie. Based on what we know of Versus XIII lore, Noctis was supposed to have a near death experience that gave him supernatural powers, and he meets Stella (his love interest till she was scrapped and replaced with Luna for FFXV) in front of a portrait of Etro. 

If Yozora is a servant of the goddess Etro and/or has had a near death experience, it might explain how he’s able to access The Final World/Shibuya. And if he has supernatural powers that are connected to Etro, that might also explain why he was able to turn Sora into crystal in the “bad” ending.

In the XIII games, L’Cie who had completed their focuses/tasks given to them by the Fal’Cie (the demigods) were “rewarded” with crystal sleep as a form of eternal life... until the demigod had use of them again, and woke them up for a new focus. Turning people into crystals and waking them up from crystal sleep is something only demigods and gods can do. If the L’Cie failed to complete their focuses/tasks, they turned into Cie’th monsters instead. 

All the talk about Yozora turning Sora to crystal to “save” him makes me wonder if 1) Yozora has supernatural powers related to Etro, and 2) he turned Sora into crystal to prevent Sora turning into a monster or to prevent something equally bad happening to him. Perhaps Yozora’s “focus” is, indeed, protecting Sora, even as we stare at our screens in confusion when his words seem very opposite to what we’re seeing unfolding. 

Of course, there’s also the possibility that Yozora turned Sora to crystal so that he could switch places with Sora and reach the Nameless Star in the Final World, who is highly implied to be the young woman he was separated from in Verum Rex. I got that vibe from the Limit Cut scenes as well. 

Could what Yozora does be connected to Kairi? Possibly. I got the vibe that she, Riku, and Yozora are the three people dreaming of Sora, and so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that she and Yozora have met and spoken. At this point, we can’t do much else besides speculate, but there’s a lot of interesting theories to think about and discuss.

Thanks for the ask!

[altanhal]

i see you (and your diamond blues)

Summary: Fuck me harder. She'll say and never: fuck the gods, because at the end of the night, this is all preordained. Everything in this world is already set in stone, even the bruises come tomorrow, is written by Bahamut's hands.

Or: The Lady Lunafreya through the Chancellor's eyes (and hands).

Rating: M

Trigger Warning/s: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death/s

Relationships: Lunafreya Nox Fleuret/Ardyn Izunia, Lunafreya Nox Fleuret/Nyx Ulric, Aera Mirus Fleuret/Ardyn Izunia

Characters: Ardyn Izunia, Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, Nyx Ulric, Aera Mirus Fleuret, Ravus Nox Fleuret, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Original Child Character(s)

Additional Tags: Past Rape/Non-con, Underage Rape/Non-con, Soulmates, Murder, Violence, No Smut, the rape doesnt apply to lunardyn/lunyx 

Part 1 of “I am lost and led only by the stars” Series.

Also on AO3 and FF.net.

×××

i see you (when you cry, when you're shy, when you want to die)

The first time he sees her, he doesn't know who she is yet.

She is thirteen and bruised, sobbing inside one of the hollow trees of Fenestela Manor. White dress ripped up to her hip, and angry purple marks generously pepper her neck and wrists.

There is a spot of blood at the bottom of her dress, and Ardyn wouldn't even have spared her a second glance. This is how monsters are after all.

But the moment he sees those diamond blues for eyes, Ardyn takes off his coat and wraps it around her smaller, much smaller shoulders.

She sees his face and recognizes him. "Chancellor." She cries and those eyes pierce through him like knives.

"Who did this to you?" He asks and she shakes her head. Quiet and miserable. A servant girl, abused by her master, too afraid to speak out it seems.

Ardyn kneels down to gain her trust.

"What's your name, love?" He asks her gently and it takes her a long, long while to answer.

"Lunafreya." She says and Ardyn releases a breath. The Princess of Tenebrae herself, sullied in her own country. In her own castle.

"Lady Lunafreya. . ." He begins but he is at a loss for words. So he hikes her on his arms, like a father would his wounded child, and takes her back to the Manor. She is silent save for her sobs, and clinging on to him as if she would die if she didn't.

Her maid sees her and begins to cry also, but they say nothing, only bowing to the Chancellor and taking the girl from his arms.

Ardyn hears about the Lady Lunafreya departing for the town the next day. His visit only a political one, he couldn't stay long enough for her to come back from her trip. But her maid had been ordered to give him back his coat. Ardyn leaves it behind, along with the image of her crying in his arms, of those blue diamonds piercing through hundreds of years of his life.

It is only a few weeks later when he returns to Tenebrae to see how the young Lady of the Manor faired, but she still has not returned it seemed. The guest books were still logged and it is there that he finds two names other than his own on the date of his visit.

A murderer of the blood of the Oracle that goes by Glauca, and just a deputy, a Caligo Ulldor.

×××

i see you (yes, i see you)

The second time he sees her, it is three years later on the ceremony that would crown her the Oracle.

She is sixteen and already a young woman, and yet Ardyn cannot see her as anything but that bruised and bloodied girl in the ripped dress. She parades around Tenebrae in her Oracle robes and arrives at the designated altar.

The Chancellor watches her from somewhere in the crowd as she kneels and prays. Sees that rare sunshine blonde of the Fleurets frame her holy face. The image is almost complete. Only one last thing to finish the replica.

And as if he willed it to her, she opens her eyes and looks straight at him. To meet his amber ones with her blue diamonds.

And thus, another Oracle is born to hate me once more. He thinks, because the moment she received the visions from the gods, she also received their hatred for him.

She looks on without a trace of emotion on her face, neither of joy nor relief. She looks on. And Ardyn finds himself entranced as she summons that same trident that has been between his flesh and bones once upon a time.

Anger pours forth from his many cracks, something ugly and demanding to be felt. And still, he looks on.

As does she.

×××

i'm alone with you (you're alone with me)

It is the third time that has him certain that not only are Bahamut and the five other gods fucking him over, but also Eos herself has joined in tormenting him. For he sees the Lady Lunafreya approach him in one of the grand balls he is required to attend as Chancellor.

She is twenty and in a silver dress this time, beautiful as he expected her to be; and confident, oh so confident that he doubts this is the same child he wrapped in his coat and held in his arms years ago.

The Lady Lunafreya presents herself to him with a small bow of her head and a smile so sweet; Ardyn almost doesn't see the danger in those sly lips of hers. He bows in return, removing his hat with a flourish to acknowledge her.

"Lord Chancellor." She greets as he straightens himself.

"My lady." He smiles, that smile that says he is amused but you aren't sure whether to be convinced by it; so you best be careful with him.

But this Oracle is careless. For she moves to his side and takes his hand in hers.

Ardyn watches her curiously, a suggestive retort for her boldness ready on his tongue.

"My, my, Lady Lunafreya—"

"Aera." She cuts him off, blue diamonds looking up at him with mischief.

His heart must have dropped to the floor, because it takes a moment for him to pick it up and put it back in his chest; where it drums wildly for the first time in two thousand years.

He hasn't heard that name from a mortal tongue in so long. Eos is teasing him; of this he is absolutely certain.

"I beg your pardon?" He says and sees a twinkle in her diamond eyes.

"My name is Aera."

Ardyn finds himself fully facing her, hands cupping her face and tilting in that angle where he can see her in all her glory.

"Aera?" He asks, hopeful, so desperately hopeful that someone up above has given him a blessing in this curse riddled life.

"Yes. That was the name my mother chose before I was born, but my father disagreed and desired for me to be named Stella instead. They had a long argument until they settled on Lunafreya. Mother liked it enough, and thus, here I am. The Aera-could've-been." She explains and this is where Ardyn allows himself this one weakness.

The Aera you are not. He thinks bitterly and laughs, a hollow frightening thing that has the Oracle looking worried.

"Is there something wrong, Chancellor?" She asks and he shakes his head.

"No. I am fine, love. Only that, that was an interesting fact that I didn't know about you." Ardyn tells her, dropping his hands from her face but she holds on. Clasping her own onto his.

"Chancellor," she begins and her diamonds find his ambers once more. "May I have this dance?"

He sees those same brows furrow in the way he knows that she is determined. That same purse of her lips, a rebuttal ready if he refuses. That same spun from sunshine hair that he knows is as soft as the rays he couldn't touch. And that same diamond blues for eyes that pierces his own every single time he sees them.

The same face and nothing more. Ardyn thinks and gives her a smile that is a mask.

"Lead the way then, Aera-could've-been."

×××

i see you (when you run from the light within your eyes)

The fourth time is the first of many.

Of nights and days where he succumbs to that face paired with those eyes. Where she lies beside him on her front, letting him ghost his fingers on her moon-kissed back. Times where, she holds his hands and smiles that smile of hers, the one that says she knows what she wants so don't ever give her what she needs.

And what she wants: is him.

He would remember how she got him. How the day after the grand ball, she asks if he had any duties as Chancellor for the next week.

The answer was yes; he had to get back to the Empire to plant onto the Emperor his plans discreetly. Time isn't of the essence but his plans on the other Chosen King must go smoothly without fail. But this isn't what he tells her.

He tells her that he isn't pressed for time by his duties and entertains her request.

"Would you accompany me to Tenebrae? I would want the people to know who their Chancellor is." She tells him but he knows it is a lie.

It is a lie because the moment they arrive at Fenestela Manor by nightfall, the moon high at the top of the sky, she takes his hand and leads him to her chambers. She excuses herself to her closet, leaving him standing alone and utterly mystified by this Oracle. By this princess who shouldn't have been making friends with him.

He inspects her room; a room he knows is fit for someone of her prestige, and sees the book the people of today call their bible.

Cosmogony. Ninety-nine percent lies. He thinks and walks over to the table where it rests. He opens the first few pages and reads the passage he has memorized the first time Verstael handed him a copy. Only one percent truth.

"And so, Izunia Mirus Fleuret, the son of the first Oracle, inherits the trident but refuses to be holy." He whispers reverently. Tracing the depicted painting of Izunia on the thin page of the book. The boy's red-purple hair and blue eyes, the only accurate thing about the painting.

"Origo Sanctus, chapter 66, verse 6." He hears the Lady Lunafreya say behind him but he doesn't face her.

"You know this tale well." He says, closing the book and flipping it over. He doesn't want to see his brother on the cover. Not in this place where the Oracle keeps it immaculate—clean.

"As do you." She replies knowingly.

It tears a sigh from his throat. A weary one and it is only by millennia of patience that he doesn't burn the book to ashes.

"No. Not as well as you."

"My ancestor, Izunia, became the Oracle but an unholy and impious one. The book does not elaborate as to why. I can only wonder, if Oracles really are the chosen mouth piece of the gods." She says with a tilt of her head.

He didn't expect something this callous coming from an Oracle herself. It is scandalous, blasphemous even.

"Your ancestor was just a boy." He says sternly, trying to justify an unholy Oracle.

"As was I."

He knows what she means. He has thrown away that memory years ago but now it all comes rushing back before his eyes. Of the thirteen year old Lunafreya Nox Fleuret with bruises on her pale neck and wrists, her white dress ripped and bloodied.

"Do you question your preordained fate?"

"Yes," she says this almost in wrath. "But. . . But I accept it nonetheless." Her tone is defeated now, and Ardyn decides he cannot face her yet, not when something this honest and so close to his own truth is heard within these walls.

He doesn't say anything because what she says is true. It applies to him as well. The silence stretches on and he hears her approach.

"But there are such things as unholy Oracles." She says as she rounds him, standing in front of him wearing that coat he wrapped her in, all those years ago.

He watches her, the silver of the moon streaming in through the balcony to bathe her in its ethereal light. The perfect replica. The Aera-could've-been. That same face and nothing more indeed.

The coat hangs loose on her like a child in her parent's clothing, but somehow, it pleases him to see her in his clothes. She moves closer, taking his hands in her own once again. Her eyes focused on his, she brings his hands to rest on her neck, where the coat is held together only by a single chain.

He sees her drop her eyes for a second, building her courage before meeting his gaze, steady and ready. By his hands, she tugs on the chain and the coat unravels to fall to the floor.

Her skin glows in the moonlight, carefully unmarred and soft. Ardyn eyes her apathetically. He isn't sure if he could bring himself to compare this Oracle's body to that of his beloved, because even in this, they are the same. From the small star-shaped mole on her left rib close to her breast, to the birthmark shaped like one of Ifrit's horns on her hip, close to where neatly trimmed light colored hair begins.

Ardyn finds himself not caring either way, when she stands on her tiptoes to brace both hands on his chest and kisses him. Just that gentle tap of a kiss before she pulls away to assess his reaction. Only for him to surge forward and devour her in the most unholy of ways.

And so it began. Of a pious yet unholy Oracle, and a Chancellor adding another one to his sins.

×××

i see you (when you chase all the dreams inside your head)

He has lost count how many meetings they already had. But he will remember each and every one of them.

Where at one time, she grows too curious. Lying on his chest, gazing up at him with her inquisitive eyes.

"Is it just a coincidence?" She asks.

"What is?" He smirks at her and she gets that cheeky look on her face.

"That you are Ardyn Izunia, or is it that we have a common ancestor?"

I am your ancestor.

He stares at her. Sees past the curiosity and finds the eyes of an Oracle seeking the truth, and also somehow. . . something a little too wise.

Ardyn knows that she knows about him. His story all too clear in the visions of every Oracle that ever was. And she knows that he knows. But they play their parts as if they were truly just a princess and he, her Chancellor.

He knows that she does this because once upon a time, he had been her knight in shining armor. That she has painted him a savior when he hasn't been for the past two thousand years. All of this is given physical proof by that coat that she has never given back, and of times like this where not even clothes separate them.

"Just a coincidence." He says lightly, like he jests but he can see the way her eyes soften knowingly.

"I've read the Fleuret lineage." She comments as she traces the line of his jaw.

He quirks a brow at that. "Oh?"

"Everyone's parents are accounted for. Except for Izunia. His father hadn't been listed." She says and Ardyn tears his gaze away from those diamond blues. Something truly vulnerable and devastating yawns wide in him.

Because he had been erased. He wants to say.

"Izunia's parents weren't married when he was born." Is what he says instead. "Thus, in the legal point of view, his father wasn't part of House Fleuret."

He was House Caelum. He thinks bitterly.

"How come?" She asks and Ardyn tightly wraps her in his arms. Rolling over her to bury his face in her neck.

She holds him close, feels the air build up in his expanding chest. He holds his breathe for a few seconds, like gathering what little remains of his sanity. The sigh is heavy and tired when he releases it, tickling the skin of her shoulder.

"They were betrothed, but he was too busy."

"Busy doing what?"

"Hiding from his brother who hunted him down, and saving his people from sin."

×××

i see you (when you smile)

One night is a little different from the rest, because in this, he tells her what it meant if she had not been named Lunafreya.

Her eyes are closed and she is dozing off, her back to his chest as they soak in the warmth of her bathtub. The water sloshes a little when Ardyn raises an arm from where it was wrapped around her waist, but she doesn't even stir. Her head is slowly starting to loll forward unto the water when he brings his wet fingers to graze her hair and tug sharply on a strand.

Lunafreya jolts awake with a yelp and the water splashes with the movement. Ardyn laughs mirthfully as he places his hands on her shoulders to calm her.

"Forgive me, my dear. I didn't want your maid to find a drowned princess on my lap. Just imagine the scandal that would bring." He says with that arrogant but endearing smirk of his and Lunafreya finds herself completely awakened.

"I assure you, Chancellor, I will never drown." She says and turns around to drape herself on him.

Ardyn raises a brow at her, hands resting on her hips. "Is that so?"

"I know how to swim." She tells him and the ever present lopsided smirk he has twitches minutely.

He releases her from his arms to lean forward and pull her legs to wrap around his waist. The water sloshes again, the volume decreasing as the liquid ends up on the tiled floor. She is exposed to the air from the waist up, revealing the star shaped mole on her left rib close to her breast.

Ardyn takes notice of it and rubs the mark with his thumb as if he wants to erase it. It doesn't go away as expected so he rubs harder, the action tearing a laugh from the Oracle as she tries to squirm away.

"Desist at once, it tickles!" She huffs and Ardyn does as she says. Settling back down with her on his lap.

"Did you know that Stella means star?" He asks.

"Yes, but when I asked my father if he wanted to name me that because of my birthmark, he said that he had just read it from a book somewhere and that he didn't actually know what it meant until I asked." She chuckles at how silly it is and Ardyn's eyes twinkle as he hears her laugh.

"It's a beautiful name, as beautiful as the poem I've read about a star."

She grins at that. "A poem you say?"

"Surprised that I am a man of culture?"

She looks away, eyes sly and coquettish. "Perhaps."

"Very offending, love. I might not tell you after all." He grins, mock insulted.

"I jest, Chancellor. You are indeed a man of finesse and culture."

Ardyn makes a show of thinking her statement over. He absolutely loves games like this with her. He doesn't answer for a minute, waiting for her impatience to take over. The minute not over yet, the eagerness sparks in those diamond blues of hers. Alas, she comes for what she wants as expected. He cannot deny her these small things after all.

"Will you tell me, Chancellor?" She leans forward, placing her hands on his chest, eyes bright and curious.

Ardyn smiles, a pleased expression painting his face. "Very well."

"V temnom nebe,

Ya tebya vizhu,

Kogda ty bezhish',

Ot solnechnogo sveta,

Eto idet za toboy."

"More eto gorizont,

Eto gde vy idete vniz,

Utonul na zapade,

Krasivaya Stella,

Proglochennyy morem."

He finishes with a soft, sad smile on his face. His eyes vulnerable and a different color from the amber it always had been. But before the light could reflect and show her the tone, Ardyn blinks and the tender and fond expression is wiped away in an instant. Leaving that same devil's grin that the Oracle is more familiar with.

"It sounds beautiful. I can understand all six of our languages, and yet I have never heard of that before. It is nowhere close to any dialects I know. It sounds similar to the oldest formal Galahdian but it is somehow different. What language was that? I am mystified." She says; the awe evident in her tone.

Ardyn is pleased that he has her amazed just by reciting a poem. His eyes drop down to the mole and it makes something like pride rise in him. Ardyn decides that Lunafreya being the perfect replica of Aera isn't so bad after all if it meant he gets to teach her something new about her body.

Krasivaya Stella.

"Solian. A language long dead. But you are right about it being close to High Galahdian. They are migrants that descended from an extinct civilization. Most probably from where the language originated."

Lunafreya nods, comprehending this newfound knowledge he has shared.

"What does it mean then? This poem about a star?"

"In the dark sky, I see you. When you run from the light of the sun. It is coming for you. The sea is the horizon; this is where you go down. Drowned in the west. Beautiful Stella, swallowed by the sea." Ardyn recites fluently and this is where her face falls.

"So the star, it is being chased away from the night sky by the dawn. And the tone. . . it is quite melancholic, don’t you think? Is there more meaning to it?"

"Oh, who knows? It is an ancient poem. For all we know, it was made by a child who liked stars." Ardyn shrugs and tilts his head back to rest against the marble.

"Or someone who lost the stars in their life."

Ardyn looks down at her with a chuckle.

"My, getting philosophical with that tongue now. Let's put that to good use, shall we?" He says and tips forward to taste her mouth with his. Discussion abandoned, Ardyn covers the star on her rib with a purple background, caged by bite marks and surrounding skin a raw pink color from the heat of the water.

It is this night that he gets fresh scars on his back that could be mistaken as slash wounds like the rest. Little parallel valleys of red almost akin to wings on the entirety of his back. Only the Oracle knows that they were put there not by blades, but by perfectly polished nails.

×××

i see you (when you hide, and when you lie, it's no surprise)

It is a game they play. Where she asks and he answers as close to the truth as he can, but also, as vague as possible. Each meeting starts with her holding onto his hand, stealing him away from whatever he is attending to. It all ends with a single inquiry. Each, different and closer to the truth than the last.

But it is on the day he arrives on Tenebrae from Insomnia that she breaks from the rule of their game.

"You are to be wed, my Lady." Is what he greets her with when he barges into her room unannounced.

She stands by the balcony. The mortal form of the Glacian at her side. Ardyn tilts his head, the smirk on his face as flamboyant as ever.

The Lady Lunafreya looks at him with grief as he expected, a small frown on her lovely face. He walks closer, closer and closer, until she has to crane her neck to look up to him.

The Glacian advances on him as well. Her movements wary and cold, yet her face is that same peaceful one on her death bed.

The Oracle waves her at ease.

"It is alright, Gentiana." Lunafreya says and the Glacian disappears in a flurry of snowflakes.

Ardyn grins at that, another god reduced to a glorified lap dog. He smiles down at her, something ruthless and malicious, but she doesn't falter. The small subtle frown is still on her face.

"What is the matter, love? Is the bride getting cold feet already?" He teases as he strokes the side of her face. She flinches away from his hand.

"So it begins." She says and Ardyn hums tauntingly in agreement. This is the beginning of the end. His long coveted demise is just a few more years ahead.

"Astute as always." He smirks, leaning down to invade her lips with his own, but unexpectedly, she pulls back.

The devil's grin grows wider with this.

"I am the Oracle, and you, the Accursed." She says this so coldly, he could almost see her as Aera with that trident, stabbing him again and again as orchestrated by the Draconian.

"Ah." Ardyn cannot contain his glee. “No more of this is what you mean?”

She hesitates.

“We must fulfill our calling.” She whispers.

Ardyn steps away from her, smirk ever present, as if he hadn't been rejected, or more likely, it didn't quite affect him. “Very well.”

As he walks away, he feels the warmth of her hands wrap around his glove covered wrist. This is how it all began. With touches precise and unrelenting, knowing exactly what they want.

"For the last time then?" Her voice is surprisingly hard but he cannot be deceived. He hears the lament in her voice. Feels her disappointment that this little game they have is coming to an end.

It seems brutal even for her, to speak as if she had a right to this, use him for her fantasies of a knight in shining armor. When she knows she is just as expendable as all the pawns in this mess of a fate they have.

Oh, but her eyes, diamond blues shining with want, want, want. Not need, never need, because it would seem hypocritical to have this instead of reject it.

He faces her, crowds her onto her bed. "For the last time." He whispers on her lips and that's when she presses on.

In this last immoral dance, she is unappeasable. Anger in her mouth as she kisses too roughly, bites too hard, and grips too tightly. She demands for the pain and that is what he gives her.

Fuck me harder. She'll say and never: fuck the gods, because at the end of the night, this is all preordained. Everything in this world is already set in stone, even the bruises come tomorrow, is written by Bahamut's hands.

×××

i see you (in the dark, at the dawn of something new)

It is by her countenance at the Caelum Via, on the eve of the signing ceremony that he notices her eyes wandering from him. A moment she was by his side, regal and professional. The next, she is turning her whole body away from him the moment the King of Lucis arrived.

Ardyn was sure she wasn't looking for the Prince, because she knows that the young groom had been sent away with his friends. It is certainly not the King nor his entourage; for he sees her eyes skim past and away from that group. He wonders what it is that is in the works here, but the moment a Glaive steps up on one of the overlooking posts, is the moment she steps a little farther from him.

Ardyn admits he did not expect this development. For the Princess to take interest in her once guard. From the corner of his eye he sees her pretend not to eye the Glaive, but it seems she is not skilled in the arts of subtlety with a real soul-paramour as compared to their illicit affair.

He really is her dirty little secret. Much worse than a simple bodyguard it seems.

No matter. If the desperate and angry way she fucked him was any indication of her finally taking on the role of Oracle and bride, then this little infatuation with the Glaive would be gone come the morrow, when Insomnia's walls shatter like fragile wineglass.

"Let us toast to this propitious day, love." The Chancellor says as he snatches two glasses from a passing waiter. He offers the blood red wine to her and she takes it mindlessly, eyes still on the Glaive. The flute of champagne in his hand sparkles as fireworks burst around them.

He raises his glass forward and she gives him her full attention. Her eyes guarded, so very guarded that he doesn't see the once sullied child nor the unholy Oracle anymore.

"A toast, to the Lord Chancellor's successful broker." The Oracle says and clinks her glass with his. She drinks, smooth yet greedily, and Ardyn watches with amusement, the champagne in hand still untouched.

She finishes her glass and delivers it to another passing server. Then, she excuses herself. Gliding past people who would want to chat with her, and arriving to her Glaive with hello on her lips. Her smile so rare and genuine, that Ardyn sees it only now.

Oh Aera, pray be with me. Always.

It's that same smile that Aera gave him when she promised him eternity.

Rage expels from him in a heartbeat but he must not be weak even in anger. He bites his lip to contain the scowl threatening to split his face. The glass in his hand cracks but doesn't shatter, it makes him ease his grip, grazing the web of cracks with his thumb.

This changes nothing.

He raises his glass, distorted are the image of the King and the Emperor, but on the Glaive and the Oracle, their image is as golden as the champagne.

Ardyn toasts to the four people he would hang in the Lucian throne room.

×××

what a mess you've made of everything / when you think that i don't notice all your scars

Halting the Oracle's brother from killing the barely-there King of Light, the Chancellor had not expected to have to warp so close to them.

Ardyn is grateful that even with Ravus, he still has influence and authority over him. Managing to tug the High Commander along and away from the Prince Noctis, they leave without much trouble. He must keep both princes away from each other until the Lucian Prince and his friends are ready.

In the meantime, the Chancellor has one more seed to plant for one specific thing to go according to plan, and this particular seed concerns the High Commander Fleuret.

Leaning on the window of the airship they boarded, the Chancellor smiles the devil's triumphant grin.

"You might want to look within the ranks, High Commander." He says like a taunt, mocking this blood of the Oracle of his status as outsider.

"Please, Chancellor. There are no moles in the Imperial Army." Ravus dismisses.

"Moles, no, but someone other than the late General Glauca who had access to Fenestela Manor on that flawed day of fate." The Chancellor says with a flourish of his hand, and knows without a doubt that Ravus understands what he means.

The look on the eldest Fleuret's face when he turns bodily to him is one of inquisition, eager and begging to hurt. "Pray tell, Lord Izunia, the name of this monster."

"Then the name you are looking for, is Brigadier General Caligo Ulldor." Ardyn answers and that's when Ravus' eyes glaze over, remembering every detail long buried of the day he found his sister unresponsive to anyone but her maid for months.

Ravus Nox Fleuret trusts the Chancellor, trusts him with his sister's life for he has seen the coat treasured in the Oracle's closet with not a speck of dust. Ravus knows the story behind it even if he hadn't seen it unfold before his eyes.

Though, it is enough that he has seen them often together. Seen them dance on balls and go for walks. Seen him accompany her on her trips to other towns and cities in order to heal plague bearers. Seen them at the Manor for tea.

The only occasion he has never seen them together, are the moments when his sister takes the Chancellor's hand, and leads him to sin.

This is why Ravus trusts his credibility, because he has not seen how Ardyn prays to Eos before having the Oracle come on his tongue.

"How did you find out?" Ravus asks, good hand twitchy and shaking with restrained anger.

The Chancellor gives a little bow.

"You're most certainly welcome." He smirks theatrically. Quite enjoys riling up these pawns; he thinks this must be how the gods feel when they toy with mortals.

But Ravus wants his answers, and this time, there is a slip in his perfect composure since the ring denied him. The High Commander paces away, uncharacteristically agitated and fuming.

"I ask, Chancellor, that you tell me."

Ardyn closes his eyes, face peaceful even with the insinuating smile on his face.

"She mumbles in her sleep—your sister."

The High Commander freezes. Eyes deadly despite the way he calmly asks: "How would you know that she does?"

Ardyn's eyes twinkle when he opens them, and Ravus—he sees red.

"This is why you were always with her?! Under our own roof!" Ravus advances on him, rapier drawn and pointed at the Chancellor's neck.

Ardyn laughs.

"I never did anything that she did not want, it is she who took my hand from the very start." He smirks and parries the blade with his own palm. "Lower your weapon, High Commander, I am not the one that tainted your holy sister."

"When did this began?" Ravus questions and it tears a chuckle from Ardyn's throat.

"I do not hurt little girls, Lord Fleuret. Rest assured, she was a woman when it all began."

Ravus eyes the Chancellor sternly. He searches those amber eyes for lies but he sees no deception, only amusement and something utterly soft and desperately hidden. He sheaths his weapon and lets the Chancellor step closer.

"I tried not to remember that miserable girl, but alas, she does mumble in her sleep," he says lightly, a frown worms its way into his grin, turning it into a grimace.

– Lord Ulldor please stop –

"This is something I am surprised I cannot be. . . indifferent with." Something creeps in Ardyn's voice in the middle of speaking, wrath and sorrow rolled in that break of speech. He hides it, quick and inconspicuous like hummingbirds.

Before he truly goes, Ardyn gives the High Commander a hard look. Amber eyes flashing, like spilled gold in a ship wrecked by storm.

"The world needs not men who hurt little girls. Do with the Brigadier General as you please." He says and leaves the Lord Fleuret to it.

Another seed planted. Another murder on the way.

×××

i see you (when you laugh, and when you love until the bitter end)

It came as a surprise, really it did, for Ardyn thought he has seen it all. To see the Ring that had once been meant for him, worn on the finger that shows of marriage, by a man not of royal blood.

Nyx Ulric is his name, as reported by one of the Lieutenants stationed at Altissia. Arrived with the Oracle and never once left her side. It's the gossip of the town, a scandal as big as the coming covenant in the next few days.

I heard the Oracle cancelled her wedding.

But I saw her arrive this morning, isn't here the venue of the wedding?

Not to the Prince, have you seen her bodyguard? I don't blame her.

Oh dear. An affair?

But isn't that how political marriages work? Empty with another different person to warm their bed?

Ardyn hears them all. He hears how the Lady Lunafreya has abandoned her lineage in favor of taking on a Galahdian name. How Lunafreya Ulric married her Glaive on some small chapel on the road.

It is obscure and vague, but rumour is that their souls are one and the same, tethered to each other by a red string.

The last one hadn't been a gossip. He heard it from the Lady herself, after she has settled from her arrival. He visits her in their suite (a prison really), when the Glaive took the rare moment to be apart from her for a telephone call all the way to Galahd.

Ardyn greets her with a bow.

"Lady Lunafreya – oh, forgive me my mistake – it's Missus Ulric now."

"So you've heard."

Ardyn smiles at her, something glinting, like flint in a dark cave. "Is it fuck the gods now?"

Lunafreya gives him a resolute stare. "For him? Yes."

"For me, then?"

"The Aera I am not, remember?" She glances away to the open balcony, where the scent of salt and the breeze of new come from.

There is a tug on the side of his lips, akin to something like amusement made by her impertinence.

"You were my hero once upon a time. Now your daemons have made you a villain. The villain has swallowed what little hero I see from you."

"Oh?" He follows after her as she steps toward the open air. "Is that why you've found yourself a new hero?"

She looks at him, giving nothing away if she had been offended or not.

"That little fairy tale matters not the moment I said I do." She answers with a shake of her head. Beautiful as ever even with the frown on her face.

Ardyn can only smile emptily at that. "The Aera you are not indeed." He agrees.

The Oracle hums readily, compliant with his truth out loud—not curious, not knowingly, only certainly as if she will not hear anything from him anymore.

"Nyx is mine." She says.

"What a proud wife." Ardyn comments with a smile but it is void of amusement or mirth.

"Mine in the soul, together since time immemorial, Chancellor. I am his as much as he is mine." As preordained. He thinks she almost adds.

"We've found each other. . . but it wouldn't matter. My candle burns close to the last wick, tied on the other end to Nyx's like that fabled red string." She says softly like a prayer but the whisper of what's to come to her and her husband is enough for the wind to carry the tone of defeat to him.

Ardyn knows what it means, soulmates are rare, but it is irreconcilable with what could happen, if they did not bow before Hexatheon; if she really had just up and left, and said fuck the gods, for him instead of the Glaive. If she hadn't met the Glaive. If there was another way. If, if, if—

But the Oracle has made her bed, and he isn't on it. So he must watch her lie down on this grave and lower her to the ground.

"Lady Lunafreya," Ardyn starts. "If you and I had met differently, I—" He stops abruptly as the sound of the door swings open. He pulls on the tale old weaponry, and throws it to the roof where he lands and crouches quietly.

In comes Nyx Ulric, a tired and sad smile gracing his handsome face.

"Nyx." The wife greets with surprise on her face.

Ardyn sees her husband arrive beside her. Nyx's smile turning into a full blown grin once their hands fit together like perfect puzzles. It falls short though, when his nose scrunches and he inhales the air around her.

"That's the scent of air mid warp. What—?"

"It is nothing. I had a need to summon my trident."

"Are you in danger?"

"No."

Ardyn carefully warps away before he can see or hear more of this husband and wife together.

For him to run and hide like this, he truly is her dirty little secret.

×××

and i’m hoping that you will see yourself (like I see you)

Watching the Oracle as she tries to draw not even a percent of the daemons from him while the Hydraean rampaged, he is certain that she is not and never will be Aera. It's the eyes that give it away. Diamond blues that shine only for him. In this moment, where she lives separate from her calling. This is the child that saw him as her hero. The one who is scared to death of death himself. The one that wants to run away and turn deaf to the gods.

This is definitely not Aera.

This is Lunafreya, the child her father wanted to name Stella, who clutches onto his hand, weak and desperate, trying her damnedest to take away his sins. To pour it all on her soul. The same touch that had him tethered to her bed to ignore the world beyond her room.

Her blue diamonds twinkle as he gazes at her. Eyes that same fire that had him unable to deny her anything. And what he sees in them is something ugly and remarkably unique because he knows what it is. He's seen this only once. In the mirror one morning, when his humanity had seemed to come to him, his face with those same diamond blues that covet only the kiss of death.

It is not Aera he sees in her. It never was.

It was always himself.

He stumbles away from her with this realization. The weight of the dagger bringing him back to the present. His grip on the hilt sure and tight.

"When the prophecy is fulfilled, all in thrall to darkness shall know peace." She says, oh so devoted to this cause.

Ardyn's rage comes forth, fresh and unwavering even through the years. He stalks back to her, arm reared back to strike her but Nyx Ulric's kukris flash for a millisecond between them and the man himself appears to shove him away.

"Ah, the hero." The Chancellor taunts and throws his dagger at the Glaive. Nyx deflects it, easy as breathing. "I have no desire to fight you, Nyx. Run along to your prince and do what you must. Your wife and I have unfinished business."

"Like hell I will!" Nyx spits back, full body blocking the Oracle from any harm.

"Let me make this easy then." Ardyn says and calls forth his Armiger with a wave of his hands. The crystal like image of his weapons bathes him in red light.

Nyx's eyes widen. "You. . . who are you?"

"Why don't you ask your dear wife? She is my flesh and blood after all."

Lunafreya grasps her husband's arm to stand on her feet. She holds onto him, eyes imploring him to look at me. Nyx feels the weight of her gaze and reluctantly takes his eyes off the man before them.

"Why does he have the King's power?" He asks, the leather hilt of the kukris squeaking with how tight he was holding them.

Lunafreya gives him a defeated and apologetic look. "Ardyn. . . Lucis Caelum." She whispers and Nyx stares at her in disbelief.

"There you have it. Now take the ring to Noctis, you know what must be done. The Hydraean awaits." Ardyn says dismissively but Nyx doesn't go.

The Glaive stands his ground. Firmly beside his wife, electric blue eyes disturbed and with a fire that reminds him of the Infernian.

"Fuck the gods! I stay with my wife," He shouts determinedly and turns to look Lunafreya in the eye. "For better or for worse, 'til death do us part."

"'Til death do us part." She recites back just as fiercely.

Their resolve is admiring. Ardyn finds himself wondering if this is what it meant to love until the bitter end. When the face of your loved one still greets you with light still in their eyes. To have them fight with you for what beats in both your ribs. But Ardyn has lost all of this. The light in Aera's eyes. Izunia's freedom. And Stella. Krasivaya Stella.

"Behold, the lamb of god which taketh away the sin of the world." The Chancellor says, raising his hand to summon the Rakshasa Blade to arms. "Dostoynyy Agnets, voznesennyy na uboy."

"Worthy is the Lamb who is raised to the slaughter." Nyx says in return. "That's High Galahdian. How—"

"Do you want the truth?" Ardyn says as he walks closer to the pair.

Nyx stands in defense.

The Oracle answers him. "I've seen the truth."

The confidence with which she says it makes Ardyn's serene indulgence snap. Outrage distorts his face as blood, black as the night oozes from wounds that weren't there before. His eyes ghoulish like the undead. "Only my truth. Not theirs. They were twins, Lunafreya!"

"Twins?" She echoes in confusion. The history erased by the winners completely unknown even to the Oracle who's supposed to see them all.

"Izunia and Stella."

"Stella." Lunafreya breathes and every little thing he has shared with her rushes to piece themselves together.

"After what Somnus did to Aera and I, Izunia inherited the trident because Stella refused. She wouldn't leave me by myself at Angelgard. One morning when the sunlight was too much for me, she wrapped her cape around me but the guards were ordered to let me suffer so they took her away by nightfall and drowned her at sea. That is why Izunia was a deviant, being unholy was his disobedience to Somnus. Do you see now? They were children, just like you were." He spits at the injustice of it all.

Beautiful Stella, swallowed by the sea.

Her eyes lose a little of their gleam and Ardyn sees tears pool in those endless diamonds of hers. They fall and a sob makes its way past her throat.

"You – you – I see you now. You are me. In this life, alive and fighting the same fight I did." Ardyn points at her with his sword. He closes the distance between them and readily slams his palm on the forehead of the Glaive that advanced on him the moment he was at striking distance.

Nyx Ulric crumples to the ground, unmoving and face peaceful as if in slumber. The Oracle rushes to his side, what remains of her power glowing in her hands as she rests her forehead on his. She is ripped away from her husband by her hair, the braids untangling as she is dragged to kneel before the Chancellor.

"I see you. Sin eater. But unlike me, you are clean." Ardyn says as he caresses her face with the back of his hand.

She glares at him, but he can see her eyes are too soft, half-hearted and without malice. "Even one more. I will gladly take your daemons." She tells him.

Even one more. His own words on her face with his once eyes.

She is not Aera. She is the Ardyn that was meant to be. Pure and clean of all filth.

It infuriates him.

"Then take them!" He growls and wraps his fingers around her neck. That same neck he had worshiped so many times along with the rest of her.

This will be the last time he sees her. The last time he sees those diamond blues for eyes, as she struggles to breathe and claw at his hands. The final time as the tears spill from her face and the light in her eyes dull each failed breathe she takes.

Ardyn leaves husband and wife lying unmoving and cold for the Prince and his friends to find. He places the ring on the Oracle's lips in mock symbolism. Now the gods will watch over them all, won't breathe for the next years as he enters the last act of the play.

Ardyn cannot wait to hear the applause.

×××

[oathofpromises]

Herein I commit the chronicle of the traveler. Shepherd to the stars in the dark. Though the world be sundered and our souls set adrift, where you walk, my dearest friend, fate shall surely follow. For yours is the Fourteenth seat—the seat of Azem.

I thought about making an official post about this for a bit and know that other wol also have similar thought that the wol is reincarnation of Azem. I do love this because it allows us to add so much more to our wol stories.

It's important to note that the backstory I have for Azem Stella goes a bit off canon, but mostly diverging into my own thing for her. A lot of Azem backstory is a mystery aside from small hints we get throughout Shadowbringers and Endwalker. The biggest one is when people refer to wol as looking very similar to Azem. They will always refer to Azem as either a man or woman depending on the gender of your wol. I thought long and hard what I wanted Stella version of Azem to look like and after some debate eventually came up with this.

When the way forward is hidden even from the mind's eye, look not to the invocation, but within yourself. These were the words of the crystal's original bearer.

I do want to cover Azem history before Final Fantasy XIV, as we know the seat of Azem used to be held by Venat, who didn't return to the aetherial sea after completing her duties. The next Azem was Venat's friend and  protégé, who is noted being less than half Venat age when they first spared. This is mentioned during the main story quest where wol spares with Venat, who seems to know that the Warrior of Light is reincarnation of her friend.

Azem is also confirmed to be friend with Hades, also known as Emet-Selch and Hythlodeaus. As someone who tended to solve problems they fan into without seeking counsel or approval from the other Convocation members. This caused them to become quite a problem to their fellow Convocation members. A lot of Azem Stella Story runs same as much of what is revealed in the game. One thing I do want to point out is Azem opposed the Convocation's plan to sacrifice Elidibus and sacrifice their own people just to advert the final days.

It was during this time that Azem's soul and being were split into fourteen by the sundering, the ultimate result of Hydaelyn and Zodiark's battle. It was because they were against this plan that the Convocation considered Azem unworthy of having their memories preserved in a constellation crystal like the other members. It was only because of Emet-Selch acting behind his brothers backs did he create Azem's Crystal and imbued it with his friend's signature incantation, the ability to summon allies from a far. Which as we have seen the Wol has used multiple times to call fourth other Wol's from afar to assist them in various battles. It's stated that the greater part of Azem's soul would be reincarnated as the Warrior of Light, while the First's fragment would be Ardbert. It's why our Wol was able to see Ardbert when he visited them as a ghost. It is also why Ardbert was able to help stop the light progression in the final fight with Hades. Ryne makes a mention after better that Warrior of light soul is healed, which we can assume supports theory that the Azem soul in Ardbert merged with the Warrior of Light's soul.

Anyway, for my Azem backstory like stated it follows a lot of what is stated above aside from the fact that I do head canon that it was during this time that Stella Azem met and fell in love with G'raha's Ancient. I know a few people have thought of a similar thing but this relates to my overall story that they meet and fell in love with each other no matter what life time it is. First being before FFXIV, the next with Mako and T'sori and finally Stella and G'raha. They have a powerful love that surpasses time itself and keep meeting each other. It also adds to angst part of story when they are separated by fate.. I am a sucker for reincarnation stories and since ffxiv pretty much confirmed it is possible in this universe I am running with it.

I do also like the theory that Emet and Azem cared deeply for each other maybe more than friends but this would depend on the writer. I am up for writing any ships with Azem-Stella as long as writer and I build on that dynamic and follow the rules I have for shipping. Would love to write stuff prior to the final days too. I see so much cute stuff related to Azem and their time with Venet, Emet, and Hythlodeaus.

[sephirotha]

Stylish Starcourge

“Prompto!  Noct!”

Prompto lifted his head from his phone whilst Noctis stayed focused on playing King’s Knight.  Stella skidded into her twin’s bedroom, her eyes glinting with joy.

“I just saw the Chancellor of Niflheim!”

“Yeah?  I had to sit in meetings for three and a half hours yesterday with the creep staring at me from across the room.”

“Prompto,” Stella said as she ignored her brother and sat between the boys.  “His coat is so cool!  We have to borrow it for some pics!”

This made Noctis lift his head from his phone.  Prompto went pale and shook his head.

“No, Stells!” he said, and Stella pouted.  “I still have nightmares from when we stole Luna’s brother’s coat!”

“Yeah, he wasn’t very happy about that,” Noctis said as he lowered his phone.

“He was fine,” Stella scoffed.  “He thinks I have good taste.  And we had a laugh about it at breakfast.”

“Really?” Noctis raised an eyebrow.  “Ravus laughed?”

“Close to a laugh.  He wasn’t unhappy to sit next to me.  Even said the offer to go to Tenebrae was still open after the negotiations are done.”

“Yeah right, he hates us.  Can’t stand being in a room with me.”

Stella turned to Noctis.  “Maybe if you started growing up and taking these political situations seriously, he might warm up to you.  Also, it can’t hurt for you to use more dressed up words when talking.”

“First of all, you have practice pretending to be interested in boring crap and second, you want to steal the Chancellor’s coat.  Maybe you should take politics more seriously.”

“We’re getting off topic.”  Stella turned back round to Prompto.  “Come on! Please!”

“But he’s the Chancellor!  We could ruin things!”

“He’s not going to threaten to invade Insomnia because a fashion curious princess questioning her gender identity wants to try on his coat and hat,” Stella scoffed.

Prompto shook his head.  “Sorry, Stells.  I don’t want another heart attack.  I like being alive thank you very much.”

“It’ll be fine!  I literally saw him laughing at a meme twenty minutes ago.  He has a better sense of humour than Ravus.”

Prompto shook his head again and Stella turned to Noctis.  

“Noct…?”

“Nope.  I would like to stay at least a hundred feet away from the weirdo.”

Stella pouted and pushed herself to her feet.  “Fine!  I will do this by myself!”

“What?!”  Both boys sat up straight.

“Stells, no!” Prompto shouted as Stella stormed out of Noctis’s room.

“STELLS, YES!” she yelled before running down the corridor.

 ---

Stalking the Chancellor wasn’t easy with Prompto and Noctis actively trying to stop her.  They knew most of the passageways in the Citadel so Stella had to be very careful in where she was going.

Things didn’t help when they told Ignis and Gladiolus of her plans. Soon, there was added security around the Chancellor just to make sure she didn’t even swipe his hat.

Needless to say, Stella was a little moody by the time four o’clock rolled around.  She was pretty stubborn, and she knew the security wouldn’t be called off until she was caught.  She was also getting a little peckish.

She was ready to give up but then…

“Gentlemen, I must say I have had a long day enjoying your company.”

Stella spied the Chancellor conversing with his bodyguards. He looked amused, glancing up at the grate she peered through.  She moved back a little, hoping she hadn’t been caught.

“But I must retire to my quarters.  Please forgive an old man, but I do need my beauty sleep.  I’m sure you understand.”

Stella’s heart skipped a beat as the security murmured their farewells and the Chancellor went into his room.  She crawled through the vent and slipped into the passageway that was right next to the bedroom.

She pressed her ear to the secret door and listened to the jovial hums inside.  A door closed and a shower was turned on.  Carefully, she pried the door open.

She grinned as she spied the coat and hat draped across the chair next to the bed.  She tiptoed across the room, snatched the garments and took off back through the passageway.

She spent a good fifteen minutes finding an abandoned corridor, shifting the surprisingly heavy coat on her shoulders.  She placed the hat on her head and took her phone out, snapping a selfie of herself.  She squealed a little as she took a few more and lowered her phone to examine the pictures.

Her smile slowly faded when she saw in the background…was the Chancellor approaching her.  She spun around and nearly dropped her phone when she saw him a few feet away from her, arms folded and an amused smile on his lips.

“Well, well,” he purred.  “It certainly suits you.”

Before Stella could speak, he took her hand and pecked the back of it.

“Ardyn Izunia,” he said with a small bow.  “At your service, Your Highness.”

Stella swallowed as he pulled away.  She took a deep breath, grinned and took the hat off.

“Stella Lucis Caelum, Chancellor,” she said as she bowed dramatically to him.  “At your service.”

Ardyn chuckled as Stella placed the hat back on her head.  He took his phone out.

“Now, I must take some pictures of you,” he said as he stepped back. “If you don’t mind.”

Stella’s eyes lit up and she nodded.

“Of course!” she exclaimed as she fell into her first pose. “It’s the least I can do for someone with impeccable fashion sense.”

Ardyn laughed again as he started taking pictures of her.  Stella spun around, bowed and tipped the hat, her smile wide and bright.  When he lowered the phone, he beckoned her closer.

“Now, a few selfies.  If you don’t mind.”

“Course,” Stella giggled as she approached him and stood next to him.

Ardyn wrapped an arm around her shoulders and took a selfie with them side by side.  Stella blinked when he kissed her head and took a selfie of the pose.

“Wonderful,” he purred as she pulled away from his grasp.  “Now, as adorable as you are in my coat, I do need it back.”

“Sure,” Stella nodded as she took the coat off and handed it to him.

“Oh, but you may keep the hat.  As a memento.  To celebrate…the beginning of a beautiful relationship.”

Stella blinked as he put his phone away, shrugged his coat on and bowed.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Stells,” he said as he held her gaze. “I hope to see you a lot more in the future, now that we are going to be close allies.”

Stella nodded mutely as he walked away, humming under his breath. She took his hat off to look at it and smirked.  She turned on her heel and ran up to Noctis’s bedroom.

“Look what I got~!” she sung, bursting in with the hat back on her head.

Noctis, Prompto, Gladiolus and Ignis turned around and stared at her with wide eyes.

“STELLS!!!”

[amplectormors]

{Mortuae Stellae} His stubborn assprick of a grandfather had jumped into the Stargate with him. And so now there's this: Mors Lucis Caelum stuck in a frontier town where the Chosen King left him. For nobody else can survive the Dark, except Noctis alone. Did Noctis care about what was going to happen with his notorious grandfather unleashed once more on the world? No. Of course not. The world can burn and he'd never bat an eyelash over it again.

For a long time, he lingers there, in some miserable disbelief of his own actions. Sure, like anyone, he pondered the concept of time travel, and amused himself with the thought, and the fact that Noctis had more or less jumped into his time; well that meant a lot of things. Most of all -- and Mors was certain of this -- Noctis had irrevocably destroyed whatever future he came from. The moment the air shifted, the moment time distorted to fit Noctis into an equation, it had to distort the future. Something had to be wrong.

Given what Noctis told him... no, his assumption was untrue, the future refused to change. There was nothing that Noctis didn’t already mention briefly that was different. Or perhaps it was, Noctis indeed never told him much even after all probing and mild torture for info. Regardless of if the timeline they were in was different or not, Noctis gave him a pretty good indicator of his own observations: that Noctis absolutely did not care either way.

So Mors wouldn’t care either. Or at least he’d try to. As much as he’d like to claim and believe it so, he’s not as Nihilistic and Misanthropic as his supposed grandchild. No, he could only hope to attain the level of indifference Noctis had. At the moment, he cared about one thing, and one thing only. Noctis himself. Mors was desperate. Perhaps for recognition, or contentment, or some stupid curiosity. Maybe all of that.

Noctis intended to head into the Dark, did he? It seemed that amalgamous mass of daemonic continents remained untouched, regardless of the timeline. Mors even begged him to take him with Noctis, until Noctis kicked him aside and left him in that town. He supposed, it was almost merciful of Noctis, because he would surely die in the Dark; but that’s not why. He’s sure Noctis just didn’t like him. He’s sure even if Noctis did like him, or like anyone for that matter, Noctis rather be alone anyway.

By now, he had sulked long enough, and collected his ego to carry on from Noctis’s rejection. Mors established himself in this time, certain enough that he could continue on. Thankfully, he hid many things in the Citadel, and a quick trip to the ruins of Insomnia found most of his stashes relatively untouched or at least in tact. Broken Solheimian technology that still carried faint magica powers, daemon repellent, tomes and other massive informative books, tons of historical and cultural records, high power beam light bulbs, aether solution for temporary magic now that the King’s Magic was destroyed, liquid crystals for protection. He offered his resources until he could make a fat sum of money and spend it on more trips to Insomnia, where he could replenish his resources. He’d easily become the wealthiest person in this ruinous town. Not that that was hard.

He should probably have a different name for himself, but the world was so far gone the people who did remember dear King Mors were either too old and no longer cared, or just too poorly informed to ever make the comparison between King Mors Lucis Caelum, and Mors Azoria. It was probably better that way.

All the same, Mors only thought with a passing curiosity, about the past that he abandon, and if there truly was any way he could go back, and if presented with a choice, would he go back? Still, ever so often, he stands at the roof of the tallest building in this small shoddy town, and looks to the north, where the Dark accumulates, and wonders if Noctis ever will wander back down again, for whatever reason, and just what would he say when, or if, he does.

[promptisao3feed]

Murphy's Wrench

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2UFqIz3

by RikkuShinra

Murphy has a habit of visiting when things are going to right. Insomnia's late Autumn welcomes the Festival of Shiva, a celebration of Life, Dearth and the future. A time for citizens to look back on the choices over the last year.

Noctis reflects on Prompto, the awkward boy that has avoided him since third grade. Prompto dreams of his future and the choices he must make to reach them. Prompto dosen't see the wrench Noctis wields with surgical precision.

Words: 3472, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Final Fantasy XV

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Underage

Categories: Multi

Characters: Noctis Lucis Caelum, Prompto Argentum, Loqi Tummelt, Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, Stella Nox Fleuret, Aranea Highwind, Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII, Ignis Scientia, Gladiolus Amicitia, Iris Amicitia

Relationships: Prompto Argentum/Noctis Lucis Caelum

Additional Tags: Teen Romance, Alternate Universe - Teenagers, Alternate Universe - High School, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Awkward Romance

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2UFqIz3

[khresme]

on the god-forged

Thousands of years ago, the scattered tribes and clans of Eos once lived alongside the gods. While most of the Hexatheon regarded them with disdain, Ifrit did not. Through countless years of warring in his human guise, Ifrit--known as Gerra or Afara in those days--united the warring peoples into the Sultanate of Solheim, ascending as their first Sultan, king, and khan of khans. When the dust settled and Solheim truly began to prosper, Ifrit took a human woman as his Sultana and together fathered whole generations of a Sultanate that ruled for the greater of thousands of years with little interruption in between. However, the first descendant of Ifrit and his wife received something unheard of: one of the first God-forged, a ceremonial weapon of immense power capable of taking down the gods and great evil. The Scimitar of the Infernian, imbued with Ifrit’s fire that granted his descendant the Gift of Fire, became the first of the God-forged. 

Weapons made by the gods themselves, there were a total of six--then seven after Ifrit’s betrayal and subsequent erasure and bedevilment from history. They are: The Sword of the Draconian, the Shield of the Archaean, the Armor of the Glacian, the Stave of the Fulgarian, the Spear of the Hydraean, the Scimitar of the Infernian, and the Trident of the Oracle; the latter of which was the extreme last of the God-forged and the only one made by one god, Bahamut. 

Each weapon was made and gifted to a ruler of peerless valor and worthiness in the eyes of the god whom granted each mortal with one of their weapons.

The God-forged were made to exactly resemble the weapons the gods wielded, such as ifrit’s scimitar, Ramuh’s staff, or Bahamut’s primary great sword. Not only in resemblance, but in godly quantities of power. They are imbued with the powers of the god they are attributed to, and possess holy attributes and even the prowess to sunder the gods themselves. 

Two thousand years ago, Somnus Lucis Caelum, the Founder King, was the first one in history to acquire all Six God-forged--in fact, seeing as Ardyn and Somnus’ Royal Arms only numbered to two, these were the weapons Somnus sought and fought with in the Trials to gain covenants with the gods; as described in the Cosmogony. A sort of proto-Armiger, it is why the Trident of the Oracle is able to function as a Royal Arm despite not belonging to one of the Lucii. While the First Oracle was the one who wielded the Seventh. Able to smite the gods themselves in order to complete the Trials, they were the means in which Somnus was granted his abilities before he’d ever acquired the Crystal or the Ring of the Lucii from Bahamut; before even the other Royal Arms would ever come into existence. 

They possessed, too, the ability to banish the Starscourge--even if they couldn’t destroy it. It was in this means that Somnus was able to abate the world falling into complete darkness and quell the Starscourge for thousands of years and smite his brother, the way the Oracle sealed Ardyn away in a stelae at Angelgard, the means which the daemons beneath Lucis--as Izania Auburnbrie would keep the keys of--were arrested and abated, and would later be the means in which Noctis Lucis Caelum would banish the Starscourge and deal a crippling devastation in the Verse 2 battle without having to sacrifice his life--as discovered by his closest friend and adviser, Ignis Scientia along with Talcott Hester. 

Additionally, the only ones who can wield the god-forged are those directed blessed or related to Bahamut, such as Gilgamesh (his son), Sylva, Ravus, Stella, or Lunafreya (both of whom are Nadir’s daughter and grandchildren, respectively, as Nadir is Bahamut’s High Messenger and author of the Cosmogony), or those directly blessed, that being Somnus and Noctis Lucis Caelum alone. Anyone else cannot unlock the full power of the God-forged, even if they tried. 

The location of the God-forged are as follows:

- Gilgamesh, Bahamut’s demigod son and the immortal king of Ca-dimirra, the Solheimian kingdom that preceded Lucis, was gifted the Sword of the Draconian.

- The Armor of the Glacian is sworn by the High Messenger, Gentiana, though it is not always seen.

- The Staff of the Fulgarian is said to be hidden in the dungeons of Fenestala and buried with the Lucii, the Oracle, who was also the First Oracle before wedding Somnus Lucis Caelum.

- The Scimitar of the Infernian is interred in the statue of Etro deep within the Pitioss Ruins.

- The Trident of the Oracle is and always has been in the possession of House Fleuret.

- The Spear of the Hydraean is hidden in the Alter of the Covenant in Altissia.

- And lastly, the Shield of the Archaean is hidden near the top of Costelmark Tower.

[secret-engima]

There was a stranger in front of Stella's portrait. He had come, in the dark of the night when no one should have been there. Nox puffed a sigh as he watched the other from his peripheral vision. "You did a fine job, young one, of capturing her spirt," the deep voice rumbled like water over a distant fall. "Would you paint one of my mate for me? I had not thought any could do credit to her spirit, but seeing this, I think if any could it would be you." Nox hummed. "I didn't know you had a mate."

Anonymous said: A rich laugh. "Well, and why should you? Much was lost to the Scourge. Besides," a flash of teeth. "No one else would understand how to paint just two legs." Nox startled awake, deep laughter fading from his ears. And over that depth, he could swear he almost heard a second laugh, with the tones of the first melding into it. An image pressed deeply into his mind, of a tall woman, with tanned skin and reddish highlights in dark hair, grey eyes alight with mischief, a staff firmly grasped in one

Anonymous said: hand and with the other reaching for a tiger. In the background, a man with a vaguely panicked look painted across his high cheeks and armiger blue eyes, hair the same black of a salamander's pelt, as one arm wrapped around her pregnant waist as he prepared to haul her to safety. There was a feeling of wistfulness suffusing the image, a tender remembrance.

Me: *Screeches softly over how much I love this, screeches softly over how beautiful this is, screeches softly that ANON HOW DARE MY FEELS AGAIN*

...

Nox spends over a month painting the portrait, sketching it out first a half dozen times before he is satisfied with the composition, then taking loving strokes of his brush to canvas. Ardyn watches it unfold, her tail twitching in interest, and Axis stares in silent confusion over the two legs that take shape with each figure rather than a taur half, but Nox does not tell anyone what he is doing. He doesn’t show them either, but Axis and Ardyn are allowed in his suite as they please and they catch him slaving over it a few times, mixing colors and staring blankly into space for minutes on end as he examines the memory impression he’d been given.

It’s hard to give life to someone you’ve never met, but Nox tries his hardest, using the faint memory as a guide and ... other things to make it sincere.

He thinks of Ardyn’s laughter, and with it forms the painting’s smile, he thinks of Regis’s easily flustered worry and with it the man’s vague panic comes to life. He thinks of long days traveling on the road as he paints her tan and her dark hair, the sunset in her reddish highlights. He thinks of Prompto’s endless curiosity and love of taking pictures in the slender, calloused hand that reaches for the tiger’s fur.

He thinks of Ignis’s care and mothering touch in the hand that wraps protectively around the woman’s baby bump, ready to pull her to safety at any moment.

He hopes he is not altering the painting beyond recognition, but he does not know this woman, and he wants her to feel alive, so he has to pull on what he knows rather than just what he has been shown.

When he is finished, the portrait is massive, at least twice the size of the full body portrait he made of Stella (Bahamut was a large dragon after all, the picture should be large so he could handle it more easily) and it seems to take up an entire wall of his room.

Regis and Aulea see it the day he is finished, walk into his suite to speak with him and freeze at the sight of Nox, paint daubed and tired but proud with the massive painting behind him. “Oh,” breathes Aulea with a twitch of her tail, “she’s beautiful.”

Regis looks confused and thoughtful even as he makes an agreeing noise, and it is Clarus who asks a little tactlessly, “What happened to their legs?”

Nox laughs rather than take offense, “They’re humans, not Taurs.” And none of the three know what a human is, but Nox seems certain, and so they let it slide in favor of complementing the massive painting. Nox hums neutrally as he pulls his camera out of armiger and takes a half dozen pictures of his work. Aulea notes the action, puzzled, and asks where he intends to hang it up.

“Oh,” says Nox easily, “It’s not for me. The owner will probably come tonight to pick it up.”

Of course, this being the CITADEL, that is a very concerning statement, and a bemused Nox consents to having security around for when the “guest” comes. He even, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, has the painting moved down to the front steps of the Citadel, where the large roundabout lies. Regis, Aulea, Ardyn, Cor, the Royal Shields, and more than a few Glaives and Crownsguard all watch from various positions, oddly nervous at the eldest prince’s latest odd behavior.

The moon is high in the sky when Bahamut comes. He arrives with remarkable stealth, between one breath and the next, none of the usual power and fanfare of an Astral come down to Eos. His wings of blades settle on his back like living things as he fits a little awkwardly in the roundabout.

Everyone but Nox and Ardyn gasp in shock and awe and confusion.

Nox just gently pulls the covering off the painting and in the light of the moon and Bahamut’s magic, the canvas almost seems to glow, “Well?” He asks softy, “Is it what you wanted?”

Huge claws reach out as if to touch the painting, stop just before they can, “She looks,” murmured the Draconian in a surprisingly quiet voice, “like she might step right off the frame.”

There’s a rush of air, a sigh of the world, and it is not Bahamut standing there, but a man. Or ... the impression of a man. For Bahamut has not worn mortal skin in eons, and after her death he swore to never wear it again. This is just a guise, like the Messenger guise of Gentiana that Shiva likes to wear, but even so, it looks so like the man in the painting, two legs and all, that Regis has to sit down very hard.

The first Lucis Caelum, the Great Bahamut of Steel and Prophecy, lets his soft, unclawed fingers gingerly touch the painted face of his lover. Then he smiles, “She is perfect. Thank you, Young Recusant.”

Nox shrugs, unbothered by the human form of the Astral and all the implications therein that he already knows and everyone else is just realizing, “Anytime.”

Bahamut scoffs, “I am not so old I have forgotten the customs of men. Speak your price, Young Recusant, for your work. Any price within my power is yours to demand.”

Nox blinks, he hadn’t done it for payment. But if Bahamut is offering ... he twitches his tail in thought, then says, “A new title. For Noctis.” Not Chosen King, not tied to the Prophecy, free him from it with a new name, goes unspoken between them.

Bahamut’s eyes crinkle with old laugh lines and in the reverent silence, there is a deep chuckle, “Bold price. Very well, Recusant, when the Time of Naming comes, I will bestow a more fitting title.”

“Thanks.”

There’s a flicker of light and magic and Bahamut stands before them once again in all his massive glory. He cradles the painting in one hand and gives another, much deeper, laugh, “No need. You have earned your price, Recusant, and it will be paid.” Then Bahamut and his painting are gone, leaving a smug Nox and a LOT of confused and internally screaming Taurs behind.

[devilhacker]

FFXV Remake Idea: Core Members

Note: Core members are essentials to the story. They are functioning as party leader during travel and can be exchanged on camp and Airship. Each core members also have a unique quest and story which can only be done by them.

1) NOCTIS LUCIS CAELUM

Age: 20, 30 (Post WoD), 48 (True Ending Epilogue).

Occupation: Crown Prince of Lucis

Class: Hero

Combat Style: Jack of all trade. Can carry many types of weapons and magic.

Skill: Fishing - Same as FFXV

Possible Love Interest: Stella Nox Fleuret, Iris Amicitia

Profile: Son of King Regis Lucis Caelum and heir apparent to the Lucian throne, Noctis's trials begin when the Nilfheim Empire attack Insomnia in order to take the Crystals. 

Note: Unlike FFXV Noctis, this Noctis took his duty as prince quite seriously after witnessing the attack on Insomnia. Player can determined his personality whether he become a Prince Charming or a dickhead. But he still have his easy-going, laid back personality and hate vegetables.

2) GLADIOLUS AMICITIA

Age: 23, 33 (Post WoD), 51 (True Ending Epilogue).

Occupation: Shield of the King

Class: Knight

Combat Style: Heavy weapons and long katana. High Defense and HP.

Skill: Camping - Can multiply EXP.

Possible Love Interest: Aranea Highwind

Profile: The Amicitia family has long served as the shield protecting the kings of Lucis and their household, and Gladiolus is its eldest son. The bond he shares with Noctis transcends that of a bodyguard and his liege. With his prodigious strength, he stands ever ready to keep his companions from harm.

Note: Still the same muscle head and ladies man. During world travel he can get more extra information due to his high social skills. The infamous “Train scene” depends on Noctis’s action and dialogue, he either praise him or call him “coward”.

PS: I don’t like the way they treat Gladio in FFXV. 

3) IGNIS SCIENTIA

Age: 22, 32 (Post WoD), 50 (True Ending Epilogue).

Occupation: Royal Advisor

Class: Red Mage

Combat Style: Dagger, polearms and magic. High resistance to status ailments

Skill: Cooking- Same as FFXV

Possible Love Interest: To Be Determined. (My mind said Ravus. lol)

Profile: Raised alongside Prince Noctis to be adviser to the heir apparent. An intensive education instilled in him the resourcefulness and composure required for the role, his tactical acumen proving invaluable over the course of the prince's journey.

Note: Unlike the originals, this idea will try to uncover his relationship with his uncle. Depends on Noctis’s action and dialogue, his blindness will either be temporary or permanent

4) PROMPTO ARGENTUM 

Age: 20, 30 (Post WoD - if alive), 48 (True Ending Epilogue - if alive).

Occupation: Crownsguard Members, Nilfheim Sleeper Agent.

Class: Gunner

Combat Style: Various Guns and machine. High chance for critical attack.

Skill: Photography- Same as FFXV

Possible Love Interest: Cidney Aurum

Profile: Befriending Noctis since their young age, Prompto’s origin still a mystery to everyone arounds him. Nevertheless, his friends trusted him wihtout questions.

Note: This is my major change of a character from the originals. HIs reference is mainly from the Versus XIII. Depends on Noctis action and dialogue, he will either LIVE or DIE.