#'meteion' crying i can hear his voice

[noxtivagus]

WAKING UP TO THE NEW TALES FROM THE DAWN !?!

[brineffxiv]

Aw hell.

Back up a bit.

So there we were, Venat and I, trying to enter Ktisis Hyperborea in order to track down Hermes, when who should we re-encounter...

Haha! It turns out that despite claiming to not believe my story, Emet-Selch has been (with Hythlodaeus' assistance) investigating the same things Venat and I have been. I am so happy about this. I was literally chanting "Yes yes yes!" When Hythlodaeus explained what they had been up to.

*Ahem*

We have uncovered similar facts and reached the same conclusion: since it seems unlikely that Hermes himself wants to bring about the Final Days, he may yet be recruited to help prevent them.

(ha... ha... in retrospect....)

And then Hythlodaeus laughs at him. I adore these two.

It's too late Emet! You've been contaminated with my friendship (highly contagious) now you'll never be rid of me! 12000+ years in the future you will care about me so much you'll plan for me to succeed after I kill you.

...oh no now I'm crying again...

Keep it together, you've got two whole posts to write to catch up with the plot. No way you're fitting this all in one.

Right. Right.

I find Hermes (and Meteion) in the depths of the Hungering Gardens and convince him to meet with our little group outside.

I tell him what I've told them.

Though reluctant to believe my tale, Hermes agrees to theorize based on his knowledge of dynamis. He concludes much as I have already suspected: that it is likely the varying densities of the people which produced the different effects in each Final Days - the warping of creation magics and the transformations of the people themselves.

But Hermes also points out something new: dynamis is itself only an energy, set in motion by emotion, which must have a source.

It would follow then, that this source... it must be a thinking being, in order to have emotions? Mustn't it? It's not a what. It's a who.

And as Hermes points out, the celestial currents form the outermost layers of the star. If the phenomena appeared first where those were weakest, then...

Someone out in the great expanse is trying to kill us.

Ah. But we have only a moment to reflect on this new horrific revelation, when...

Fuck. Oh, fuck. Hermes, you goddamn idiot.

But no, it's not a new "friend", it's Meteion's sisters reporting in. Meteion proceeds to "suspend" her individual consciousness and connect with the shared one.

Ah.

Oh. No.

Something has gone very very wrong.

Aaaaa!

Meteion is screaming inside my head, and only I can hear her. The rest can tell that something has happened, but they cannot see the truth of it.

And then, quite suddenly, she has disappeared.

Hermes explains that this is an ability Meteion has to avoid confrontation; she alters her aetheric density to blend in with her surroundings.

It's likely that I could hear Meteion's voice just then when the others couldn't because Meteion utilizes dynamis to speak in her mind and my comparatively thin aether left me susceptible to it. This means I'm the best chance we've got to track her down. We split up and search.

Danger music is playing! Danger music is playing! This is not a drill!

Several times I encounter Meteion or her voice and several times she runs away. Disappearing again. I glean from the brief snatches of dialogue that she is fighting her programming to compile and make her report. Something about the data her sisters have transmitted has frightened and upset her, and she does not want to present it to Hermes.

Our search party regroups to find a new plan; I will continue tracking Meteion via her voice, and Emet-Selch will follow, prepared to rain aether upon her to disrupt her vanishing trick. The rest of our party will work to blockade any avenues of escape, a task made easier in that it appears Meteion has fled towards Lethe.

Um. Lethe? The river of forgetting in the underworld? Can we uh... Can we not go into there? I have a bad feeling is all.

I am at once delighted and extremely distressed. The danger music is still playing loud and clear.

The plan works perfectly, for good or ill, and Meteion is cornered. Her voice in my mind begs me to protect everyone. She can no longer flee, and commences her report.

Everywhere Meteion has gone she has found the dead and the dying. Her dispassionate voice continues behind our mounting horror.

Emet-Selch points out the obvious problem in the mission Hermes tasked Meteion with: he did not account for a negative result. The premise of Hermes' question - what others live for, what gives their lives meaning - is flawed, if Meteion encounters only those who are dead or do not wish to live.

Venat orders Meteion to cease her report, suspend her mission, and return home. But Meteion is not listening. Emet-Selch determines to take Meteion back to Amaurot, as she will be needed in order to retrieve all of her sisters.

Hermes is still stunned from the revelation of both the answers to his questions and the astounding oversight in his instructions to Meteion. He kneels in front of her and seems about to acquiesce to Emet-Selch's demand, but...

Memories of Meteion and his promises to her fill Hermes' mind, and he resolves to accept the answers in her report, whatever they are.

Suddenly he transforms. Declaring that he will not allow Meteion to be taken from him until she has delivered her full report, he takes her in his arms and flies off towards Ktisis Hyperboreia.

We chase after them as quick as we can, but arriving at Ktisis we find a crowd of confused researchers outside. An alarum is sounding and the facility has been evacuated and put into a state of alert - a field of dampening magics is now in place effecting any who aren't Ktisis researchers.

Nonetheless, we must enter the facility.

OMG OMG OMG

(Of course Emet is a Dark Knight. He fights with love! In this essay I will...)

This dungeon is a downright delight. All the little bits of commentary and characterization!! HHHhhh!!!

Also I somehow managed to get Venat killed by double stacking a mechanic on her during Hermes' fight and Hythlodaeus res'd her. Hythlodaeus, my man, you are a Bard with a resurrection spell: you have got to stop saying how bad at everything you are because you are clearly not.

Yes, Hermes, you are indeed a mad, desperate fool, but you are a mad, desperate fool in serious need of therapy and someone to talk to. Your problems, to me, seem to stem from the fact that you feel so alone. Your compassion is hampered by the fact that you're entirely too caught up in your own head, and unfortunately, you do not seem to be much of an intellectual. You need friends, people you can share your thoughts and feelings with, and who you can bounce ideas off of so you don't send your emotionally fueled, vulnerable bird-daughter out into space with no means to shield herself from negative feelings. Bad idea, that. Also you need to calm the fuck down.

Together, we defeat Hermes, who returns to his humanoid form.

Emet-Selch declares he is taking both Meteion and Hermes into custody on behalf of the Convocation. As Emet moves to do so, Hermes turns to Meteion and apologizes to her, for being unable to hear out her full report. Hermes has just time enough to ask one final question of Meteion: was there happiness to be found in those stars?

Meteion's answer is long and features examples of failed civilizations that appear to hit close to home for each of our ancients. Those probably deserve closer examination, but that tangent got three paragraphs long before I realized there really wasn't time for it, because as she's giving us this answer Meteion is beginning to leak the black smoke that signals dynamis corruption.

A- Ah. AH. Oh. It's not. It's.

It's Meteion.

The thing out there that's trying to kill us.

It's Meteion. The Meteia. Her sisters.

They are the source of the emotions behind the Final Days.

And Hermes...

You. YOU. You...selfish monster. You bloody hypocrite!

"If man can learn to value all life and retain his will to live he will surely find a way to avert his demise"

It's not enough that you throw your precious creations at us to slow our advance through Ktisis, no, in making your judgement on man you in turn curse every life upon this star to share our fate. Or, have you not considered the method by which you sentence us!? Perhaps you are too distracted by your own despair to truly hear what she is saying: Meteion is bringing death to the star itself, not selectively killing off Man. You know this from my own account of what the Final Days will bring.

You're just like the rest of us; how cheap other lives become in the presence of Man, whether you seek to better us or to destroy us. I couldn't see, couldn't fathom, how you could be the Fandaniel I met in the future. But you've been him all along, haven't you? When push comes to shove you crumple under despair and it's not enough to take your own life, no, you'll make everyone suffer with you. Everyone must feel your pain.

Hermes causes the Final Days. In full knowledge of what he will bring, the pain and the suffering. He knows, and he chooses this. Unlike Meteion, who has become corrupted, unlike the Convocation, who will never know against what they struggle, Hermes stares evil in the face and embraces it. A mental breakdown will not absolve you Hermes, in this moment you damn yourself.

No. NO.

I forgot about that thing!

Hermes orders Kairos to rewrite the memories of all within Ktisis Hyperborea, beginning at the point of Emet-Selch's arrival in Elpis. Our memories are to be replaced with a vague recollection of Meteion and her sisters' shared consciousness becoming unstable and exploding, triggering Kairos.

Kairos begins counting down.

A lot of things happen, very quickly, all at once.

With his back to us, Hermes bids Meteion fly to the far edge of the universe where none can reach her.

Venat breaks her bonds and launches herself at Meteion, intent on stopping her, but Hermes blocks the blow and Meteion leaps into the air.

The break in Hermes' concentration appears to have freed the rest of us from our chains, and as Emet-Selch summons his weapon to challenge Hermes, Venat leaps aboard Argos in pursuit of Meteion. As the two shoot skyward, Hythlodaeus leads me to the edge of the platform. He tells me that here, this is their fight to wage, but that I must take the knowledge I have gained here back to my time, to my own battle.

Meteion is rapidly approaching the bounds of the star, with Venat in close pursuit. Just before Venat can catch her, Meteion shapeshifts into an actual bird (Hey! My friend has that minion! What!?) and speeds away into space, but not before Venat manages to tag her with a spell.

Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus sacrifice themselves to allow Venat and I to escape with our memories intact. Kairos completes its final process as we soar above their heads.

In the final few seconds left to us, Emet-Selch proclaims that he still doesn't believe my story, but, if it must be said, to not squander the legacy he leaves to me. In futility I reach for him, feeling the weight of our history falling into place.

Honestly, I could barely manage to take screencaps of this part I was crying so hard.

But I caught his smile.

...

Outside again, Venat collapses on the grass, exhausted both physically and mentally by what we've just been through.

The spell Venat tagged Meteion with is a tracking spell, one with which we can track her. Though she is already unimaginably distant and beyond our current reach.

Venat uses Argos to check on our friends, now exiting Ktisis Hyperborea, with Hermes in tow.

As expected, they have no memories of the events that Hermes contrived to have us forget, and Hermes himself appears devastated at the loss of Meteion.

Wait, what? No. No no no no! You've just seen, literally just seen, that even when Emet-Selch believes something to be completely ludicrous he will do his due diligence to investigate it. Tell him. Tell them, the Convocation. Even if they don't believe you at least let them know about dynamis, so they can recognize it when the Final Days begins! We cannot reach Meteion where she is now, but you have time. Time to work to stabilize the aether currents. Time to find an alternative solution so that when the Final Days arrive it's not necessary to summon Zodiark. Don't you start this again. This information control.

Leaving aside her asinine view that public knowledge of the contents of Meteion's report would lead to some sort of further catastrophe... Venat is against telling the Convocation the truth because of her fears of what Hermes would do if he learned the truth?? Venat, have you lost your mind? Hermes is one man. The only reason he was able to do what he already did was because we had the deck stacked against us, we confronted him in his seat of power with our own abilities severely limited. It was a very specific set of circumstances!! Outside of these exact conditions what he did would not have worked! Hermes' greatest weapon is our ignorance, that's why he contrived to have us forget in the first place. You are wasting the opportunity our friends sacrificed all to provide us with!

You already know the key thing that Hermes will contribute to resolving the coming crisis! The knowledge of celestial currents! Share this knowledge and you will have no need of him!!

It needn't be senseless and seemingly inevitable at all if you would bloody well tell people! Hope is so much stronger when built on a foundation of knowledge. We cannot stop the Final Days from coming, but you can yet mitigate it. All needn't be lost. You can yet choose to do something different. I beg you, use this time to find a different path.

Please Venat, please do not let your future become my past.

[rose-from-ashes]

It's in the ruins of something resembling the Bureau of the Architect that she finds him. He's on his hands and knees, and his breath is heavy, rapid and ragged, the uneven gasps of someone who has been screaming and crying for hours. Her steps are muffled by the dust and ash, and the warping of the ground, but footsteps had always echoed clear in the Bureau, and Emet-Selch hears her, rearing up off of the ground and turning to face her with wild eyes and desperation shaking through him. He gasps, then, and rushes forward to grab her, his fingers gripping her sleeves as if she might fade, and his voice tears out of him like a fist through stone, ragged and scraped.

"Venat! You're- you're alive, you're- I thought I was alone- how did you- what happ-"

"The sundering." She interrupts him, and her voice sounds somewhat alien to herself, distant. Or perhaps it was her mind that was distant. Normally, her heart would ache with sympathy for someone so distressed, but somehow, she felt nothing in that moment. It simply passed before her eyes. Perhaps, even hours later, she had still not processed what she had done.

"What?" Emet-Selch's voice, so shaky and breathless, draws her from her thoughts. Of course. He didn't know- no one knew. Only she knew what she had done, and only she would know why. She remembered the tale that strange little thing of the future had told her. Emet-Selch would become her enemy. She could not explain to him why she had done this. He would not understand. He might even try to fight Meteion alone if he knew. He would stand no chance- such an emotional and delicate man could never stand his ground against hopelessness. He had never experienced it before. He would have no defenses.

She had made the right choice.

"The sundering." She echoes, then takes a breath. "The splitting of the world into thirteen. Every soul within it made into smaller shards of people, weaker, independent. Save for a few."

"... What do you... What? How do you know of this?" Emet-Selch is confused, but desperate, afraid and grasping for any sort of grounding. He had no idea what had just happened to everyone around him. He could see the aether, she knew, would eventually have figured it out either way, but the words fell out of her regardless, and now it was too late. She sees him begin to grasp for some kind of understanding, to shakenly offer her something, anything to respond to him. Gods, he was so frightened and alone. She had done this to him.

She had made the right choice. She reminded herself that, as he continued to speak. She had done the right thing. He wouldn't understand.

"Did you- was there some prophecy? I don't understand, Venat, you have to tell me- Venat!" He was getting angry, in his confused fear. She could hear the tightness in his throat where he was about to start crying again. "Speak to me! Tell me something, you have to tell me! I have to fix this! The world is broken, Venat, I can't leave it like this! There were too many sacrificed, and now they're gone, please, tell me!"

"I did this."

The change is instant. Emet-Selch stops in place, where he'd been inhaling to keep pleading, and the silence is deafening. The confused fear in his eyes doesn't go away, but it changes. A stunned comprehension. Good. She'd known beforehand, and now, he was beginning to catch up. To understand, in his skewed and flawed way, what he believed to be the truth.

"I struck out at Zodiark. He was too powerful. And now he is sundered."

"You..." The anger isn't there yet, but she knows it won't be long. He's too stunned, with just enough within him to release her sleeves and stand up straight. "You destroyed everything... To fight Zodiark?"

Venat says nothing.

"Zodiark- he was made of our loved ones! Hythlodaeus, Elidibus, do they mean nothing to you? You did this to hurt them?"

"I regret it," she says, but Emet-Selch can see through the blank and half hearted lie as well as he can see any soul. His breath catches, and his voice trembles with a deep loathing.

"You." He inhales to say something else, but Venat turns around before he can continue, and wisely, summons up a shield around him. The thud against it is immediate, as Emet-Selch throws his weight against it, pounds his fist against that translucent wall and screams, rage and grief filling it in the most haunting sound she had ever heard before, and the ground keens with the force of his rage-filled magical strikes. But he is distracted, scared. Far too much so to stand any chance against the second primal to be brought into existence, even for a moment, in this state. She vanishes to the sound of a second scream, and knows that he will find the other survivors.

Too late to go back now.

She had done the right thing.

[vampiricmycelium]

It Will Be Alright

Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV Ship: WoLcred Tags: Nightmares, post-Endwalker spoilers, hurt/comfort also on ao3

Phantom has a nightmare. Thancred tries to help. Written for the Fictober prompt: “It’s alright, I’m here now.”

Phantom was not prone to nightmares. As their longest partner, Thancred thought he knew his sleep habits pretty well. Phantom was a deep sleeper, but seemed to wake up pretty fast once he was awake. He was a blanket hog but also prone to chasing people across the bed to cuddle. They had a habit of kicking during the night, especially when stress was high. His ears twitched while he slept.

Whatever he dreamed about, it was difficult to tell. He never spoke about his dreams, nor had they ever woken up in the night screaming or frightened. If they had done this during the times Thancred was not with them, they nor anyone else ever spoke of it. But from what he could tell from Estinien and Yugiri, Phantom's sleeping habits didn't really change regardless of who was in their bed. When it was more than one of them, Phantom always tucked themselves right in the middle, the perfect place for them. Unless they were on a particularly kicky night.

So when Thancred was woken up to the sounds of Phantom shouting, his voice desperate and full of such pain, he was immediately concerned. He sat up and reached for Phantom. He turned, leaning into Thancred's shoulder. He could feel something wet and cold upon his naked skin. Phantom was crying now? What was going on?

"Hey, hey. You're okay. You're awake now."

"Gone. You were all gone. I was so alone."

“It’s alright, I’m here now.” 

Phantom squeezed Thancred tightly as if to prove that he was really there. That he wouldn't just fade away into nothingness with just a simple touch. Phantom stayed where they were, shaking gently as their crying slowly stopped. Thancred continued to press reassuring words against his hair and up against his ears. Lucky they were on top of his head. He rubbed soothing circles against his back. Finally, Phantom pushed on him, sitting up fully himself.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

"You don't have to apologize to me, Phantom. If you need to cry on my shoulder you can do it anytime."

"Any time, huh?" Phantom sniffled, but they seemed to be recovering. That was good. "Even in the middle of a fight? Or like when you're with Urianger?"

"Yes. Anytime."

Phantom laughed, leaning back against him again. Thancred cuddled up close to them, pressing absentmindedly kiss to his head and ears. Sometimes when they woke up together like this in the night, it would lead to certain activities, but that felt like it wasn't going to happen. This was all about making sure that Phantom was alright. They stayed there in silence for several more minutes, just resting against one another. Thancred wished that one of the others were here. It wasn't like he didn't enjoy their time together just the two of them, nor that he couldn't handle this all on his own. He just knew the others were going to be rather concerned over Phantom once they hear about it. And he knew he might not hear the end of it if he didn't tell them as soon as possible. Estinien could be rather obnoxious if something happened to Phantom and he didn't find out for the longest time. Although in Phantom's words, "I am always getting into danger and mortal harm. You can't possibly expect to hear about it all." Thancred chuckled softly, but he stopped when Phantom finally spoke again.

"I dreamed about what happened before I faced Meteion. When you were all gone. I felt so alone. I know... I know I have this whole chosen thing, well maybe not anymore. And I have taken on so many risks, sometimes without others, but it felt different. I was so afraid you wouldn't come back this time." Phantom let out a long sigh. "I've almost lost you too many times. What if the next time it's for good?"

"That won't happen. I promise. Listen, my second favorite shadow, you can't get rid of me that easily."

"Second favorite?"

"I have to give priority to my daughter."

"Oh so you admit it now, huh."

The both of them were laughing now. The tension that had started when Phantom woke up screaming was almost gone. He could feel sleep returning to him. But he didn't want to leave Phantom with these dark thoughts.

"I love you. And I'll come back from the dead for you if I need to. No matter what, nothing will keep us apart. I might become your second husband, but no one can replace you in my heart."

"I'd be your second husband too."

"And even so. I can't tell you that bad things won't happen and that we might not get seperated again, but I'll always find my way back to you. I always do, don't I?"

Phantom nodded. He leaned up to kiss Thancred. It felt like a promise, like a seal on one. Phantom seemed to become tired again, tucking himself right up against Thancred. Thancred waited until he could feel Phantom's breathing settle before he too fell asleep. He didn't think Phantom had any nightmares after that, but he knew if he did, Thancred would be there to comfort him again.

[minarcana]

tiny ultima thule urithan bc if i dont get the brain mold out itll colonize

Back aboard the Ragnarok, everything is a nervous mess. he loporrits scramble in a panic they try desperately to assure everyone isn't a panic as they try to find the way to Meteion's nest, and everyone goes through the stages of accepting that they will not be able to stand alongside the Warrior in this last moment.

Once again, the burden of a thousand thousand lives and deaths is on her shoulders, alone. And there is nothing Urianger can do about it. Strangely, he thinks to himself, it isn't his priority at the moment. He knows what he can and cannot do. The things that plague him that he can't fix are easily pushed aside for the things he can address.

And he finds Thancred, grabs his arm, and pulls him to stop pacing. It's not appropriate for the moment, perhaps, when Thancred's clearly worrying about the Warrior of Light and not anything else, but Urianger has to stop him.

He has to. Otherwise, the feelings roiling in him fester. Thancred stops with a quiet “Urianger?” and Urianger takes the invitation to wordlessly stand facing him, only a breath away, hand still clinging to Thancred's forearm. Urianger ducks his head down to press his forehead to Thancred's, eyes closed. His other hand cups Thancred's jaw. He can fel the reality of Thancred's presence like this, warm and solid before him. The faint fan of Thancred's breath, the heartbeat he can feel against his little finger when he splays it further down Thancred's neck. Urianger's breath is shaky.

Thancred doesn't talk yet. He just reaches up to loosely hold Urianger, too. After a moment, not wherein Urianger gathers himself, but wherein he can process the feeling: "I feared thou had gone wither I could not follow.“ His voice is shaky and it takes a pause for him to get the full sentence out.

He's stubborn, he sits for a time in denial always. That Thancred had died was not his main fear. It was that Urianger would not see him again, wherever he had gone, that Urianger had been left behind with only the feeling and not the person, without the ability to speak to him like this. He can't fault Thancred the action, and there wasn't an alternative, which maybe makes it worse. There's just this, the leftover of fear and anger and still-fading hate at the scared child that made them do this. ”Sorry,“ Thancred says gently, despite both of them being aware that he isn't. ”We're here now. We'll make the most of it, and we'll go home.“

The same choices would always have been made, needed to be made. Urianger laughs quietly, the noise coming with shaky breath and a burning feeling that manifests as a tear falling to Thancred's face. He rarely lets himself cry, far easier to shove it down and not waste time with he unproductive, but the reminder now is: he was scared and upset and every assorted feeling he's never actually dealt with bubbles up into silent tears that Thancred simply accepts. What if he'd been unable to have this, afterwards, with a body before him to speak and hear? ”Let it be said, I love thee.“

"I know that, I knew it then, too." He says it gently, not an admonishment or a tease, just reassurance.

But it wasn't in the air more than rarely. Too binding for Urianger to wish to place it on Thancred, already selfish enough over him. And if he'd disappeared, present but unable to hear? Then what, what might he not know? ”I love thee, I love thee….“ Until he's satisfied and he's certain, Urianger not even thinking that this display could be run across by anyone simply walking down a hallway. They're alive, they will be, he has to protect this before him first and foremost.

[okami-zero]

Endwalker

So I am glad I decided to postpone taking that quest until today because...

I just finished it. I finished Endwalker (well, 6.0, at any rate).

Cut for spoilers

So when we got to Ultima Thule, I really did not know what to expect. Then Thancred goes missing (which I dreaded as soon as I saw him go at Meteion). And then I figured Estinien was going to provoke the indolent dragons back to some semblance of their former selves, but nope! And and and... I mean, even without the focus, I could rather tell which Scion was going to square off with which tortured nihilist souls. Fucking Raha MADE ME CRY, GODSDAMMIT. The song playing for that part prolonged it, just...

And then THE TWINS MADE ME CRY. (SQUEENIX I SWEAR TO HALONE YOU LET ME HUG ALISAIE RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!) But what really got me bawling was after the twins.

The walk. And hearing all those voices (including some no longer with us). I was mostly recovered from the twins, but then the first voice came at me and I'm like, "...wait what...? Was that...?" ANd I started walking to the next shadow - and it's Papalymo. And then Moenbryda. And I was a fucking mess, doing my best to be able to hear each voice. Hien made me smile, as did Midgardsormr (or was it Seto?), but you know who just fucking ended me for several minutes?

Ardbert saying "Let's end this". God, I am gonna cry again, hang on...

Okay, I'm good, at least to finish this.

And then, Hades and Hythlodaeus! <3 And that whole stretch. Using the Ancients' creation magic to finally get through to Meteion (that hurt my heart to see, too). Hades whole thing about why he gave Akagi Azem's stone, urging him to do as Azem did and explore? Loved it! And then...look, I will never not get the shivers when the Azem summon goes off, okay? It's got the same power as when in one of the last episodes of G Gundam before a boss fight, Nastasha goes, "RING THE BELL, DOMON KASSHU!" (Get the fight started, basically, but there's more to it, just trust me). And it's not really the shivers, sort of? Like, it's hard to describe but the power of it, gets me every time.

And Akagi being a shit and teleporting everyone away. And then The OTHER Azem summon and the Trial...and me and another person were first timers, and the folks in there asked how we were liking Endwalker (Me: "Lots of tears, but good!"). I, uh, *really* need to get better about my mititgation (Trusts have spoiled me a bit) and I went into the fight blind, so I missed some dodges and died twice, almost in a row (us tanks both went down the second time, same hit, too. And we were both PLD LOL). But they were super awesome. And I thought we failed the run... And then the cutscene with the Scions praying on the Ragnarok... oof. Just, everybody was like "LET'S FUCKING GOOOOO!!!" and we nailed it.

And CBU3 punched my feels again when Meteion is lamenting to Akagi (look, there were so many places in Endwalker where Akagi's natural predilection to hugs was sorely tested, okay?). The thing that killed me, after her once more asking if they can be friends, was the little sob-gasp and the tear after he takes her hand. Like, he just opened up and let her see and feel everything. Brought her back from the brink. That little moment, right there... all but indelibly etched into my mind.

And THEN, Zenos. Who showed up and backed us up for Endsinger, yea, okay. But finally, he got the showdown he wanted, and Akagi putting everything he had in that last punch? Totally on point. Also, his teleport device (which should have been back on the Ragnarok) showing up right then? Honestly, it's kind of up to interpretation, but... my money is Meteion or one of the Ancients. Somehow.

And the waking up. So this scene just...Raha and Alisaie... Now this scene I need to rewrite, because Akagi would be hugging the shit out of all of them, possibly breaking down a bit (honestly, he would probably have a full-on breakdown once they had been back, whether at the Annex or the Stones. Just, waking from a nightmare and needing everyone there for him to see, to feel, reassure himself that they were okay, that he made it, that they all made it. And then the "disbanding" of the Scions was tough, too. But in a good way. ^_^ Another thing, he would make sure that they knew that they are his family now. More than comrades, more than friends. Family.

And, uh...Azem. That was Azem, right? (Do they use a different VA if the WoL is female? Or is it the same?) But...that voice...and Pandaemonium, eh? Oooh...

So got some new quests to pick up. x3

But I am heading for bed because I stayed up til 4 fucking AM EST to do this, because I did NOT want to break this up, I wanted the whole finale in one go, in my face and DAMN.

Let's see if I can sleep, so much to process.

And maybe some writing this weekend, because m muse finally decides to wake up after all that. Should get through my asks first, but yea. x3

Okami, out (like a light).

[meliafiore]

WIP FOR PART 2

They just stood there as they saw Meteion sitting down  a few feet away from them muttering under her breath. Melia took a big breath and stumbled over to the small child. Her legs ached with every step she took towards them and bent down. Her eyes were puffy and swollen but she gave the little girl the brightest smile she could muster. She would give her hopes for the future and make her fly far away from here. 

    “No matter where we flew, there was only darkness and loneliness and pain.” Meteion muttered as she started at the ground in the endless abyss of space. Melia’s tears still flowed down from her cheeks and small hiccups were audible from her trying to suppress her crying. “We couldn’t find the answers Hermes yearned for. The answers he deserved.” Meteion continued as Melia remembered her time with the man. Azem’s older brother, Hermes and the one who caused this mess. 

“Meteion..” Melia spoke softly as she sat down across from her. She couldn’t help but feel terrible for the child and wished to make their suffering end. No one deserved to be given such a cruel burden. 

There was a loud thud of armor crashing to the floor, Melia looked over to see Hugo on the ground and yet still breathing. He seemed to be unconscious and sleeping like a rock. His sword and shield on the ground nearby are still glowing with a bright luster. If they were going to be stuck here for an eternity then sleeping was something they would be able to catch up on. Taking a deep breath and returned her attention on Meteion. 

    “Greetings…You who are my final encounter. I wish to hear your words…Share your feelings…Know your thoughts.” Meteion sounded sad, but it held a little hope in her voice as she recited the same line Melia heard before. “May we please…be friends?” Her question felt like a stab to the heart. Melia watched Meteion reach a hand out to her and she was quick to grab it. 

    Melia wrapped both of her hands around Meteion’s with a gentle tightness as Meteion felt her emotions. The pain of a long journey and one that gave her some of the best and most painful memories of her life. Traveling to another shard, stopping the final days, saving Ishgard and helping end a war that hurt so many. Meeting life long friends and meeting someone special to her unlike any other. Letting her be there to experience the dreams of her brothers and keeping them safe. 

    A moment later tears went down Meteion’s face and she smiled. “Yes, I can see them…The memories of a long, long journey…” Melia could feel herself losing her grip as she watched her speak. The stoic mask of the hero she was playing was breaking to pieces and new fresh tears started to form. “So many people…The thoughts of them overflowing in your heart. What they live for, what gives their lives meaning…There was never a single answer.” Unable to say a word, Melia just rapidly nodded as she pulled Meteion into her chest and embraced the crying child. 

    In a very quiet whisper as Melia ran her fingers through Meteion’s hair. “It’s okay. We’re okay now. I promise.” Meteion just kept crying her silent tears as Melia sat here staring to the great beyond. 

    Moments passed as Meteion pulled away from her and stared back at her. Her face was still wet from her tears, but she had a bright smile on her face. “That which Hermes sent us to find..was there all this time. On Etheirys.” Meteion’s face now was the same as the one she saw in Eplis. Full of hope and she seemed happy now. 

    “It was created by those who live there. What gives their life meaning is something created. Different from person to person, yet special just the same.” Melia responded with a smile of her own as she wiped her face with her sleeve. 

    “Like a field of flowers, perhaps. At first a single blossom, It spreads and takes on more colors. Thank you for guiding me here. To find these words at journey’s end fills me with joy.” Meteion’s hopeful look almost made Melia forget the situation she was in but it was worth it. She would keep telling herself that. “And so, before I fall forever silent, there is one thing I must do.” Blinking a few times Melia stared at Meteion has she got up and started walking. 

    “Meteion? Where are you going?” Melia questioned as she pushed herself to a crouching position. 

The air around them started to warm and bright yellow light glittered around Meteion. It was soft and hopeful. A warm gentle light that suited Meteion and her new found answer to Hermes's questions. An answer that gave her hope for the future. 

"[Type the line." Meteion spoke as she was slowly enveloped by the warm light she created. "[More lines from Meteion]." 

As she raised her arms to the Heavens as the light got brighter. It enveloped her and shot forward into the dark abyss of space and lighting the way for the stars to return. They decorated the night sky with their beautiful twinkle and became a sight to behold. As the light faded down and almost became like a glittery substance which only increased its beauty. As the light disappeared Meteion returned to her blue feathered self and smiled. Behind her was a beautiful sunset on the horizon. But, Melia and Hugo would be stuck here. Unable to appreciate its luster with her beloved friends and family back home. 

Meteion turned to face her as she spoke holding her hands close to her chest. "(More talking from Meteion)." Meteion held her hand forward to her as Melia could only stare in disbelief a way forward. A way to go back home, but she was in no condition to travel such a distance. But, she would die trying and if she failed Hugo could go the rest of the way. 

"Thank you! Thank you Meteion!" Melia cried as she looked back at her brother still fast asleep and knew they had a long journey ahead. 

"[Meteion talks some more." 

Meteion floated upwards before a bright light enveloped her and when it disappeared only a blue bird was left in her place. It stared at her for a moment before flying at a quick pace and leaving a trail of golden light behind her. 

Melia took another deep breath as she limped over to Hugo; her body was unable to keep up due to the adrenaline that was quickly leaving her bloodstream. Allowing the full weight of her injuries to come crashing down on her. It hurt so badly and every inch ached. She probably broke some ribs and maybe an arm? She unbuttoned the top of her dress quickly to reveal the shining gems in her chest. It wasn't damaged as Melia let out a sign of relief. She quickly buttoned up her dress, but her heart did take a beating. It showed how the crystals glowed and the rhythm. It was holding on threads and those threads would have to hold out until they got home. Her personal recovery would have to wait as she heard heavy footsteps coming her way. 

Melia looked over to see Zenos's body walking forward and he seemed tired but was on the peak of his form. This was the last thing she wanted to deal with and he was the bane of her existence. A pain and a cockroach that refused to die. 

"You mean to return. To the world where you are held a hero." Zenos seemed annoyed at the prospect of her return and Melia couldn't help but glare in return. 

"You calling me a hero? I'm not. I just want to go back home. So, move aside before I lose my patience." Melia hissed back as she picked up her staff and pulled herself up through her wobbly legs. 

"As much as you want to deny it. They hail you as a hero. Here me, then not as a hero but as simply you." That was an odd question and one that caught her off guard. What sort of question would he want an answer to? She didn't want to fight him. There was no way for her to fight anything right now. 

"Zenos speech here." He's crazy. Melia was sure of it now. He was a battle crazed lunatic, but maybe so was she. He was going to stop her from leaving with her brother. So, she would have to get up and fight. In her condition this was a death sentence. But, there was no other choice. "Zeno counties." 

Melia gripped down on her staff as she pulled the moonstone out of its core and it disappeared in white and blue wisps. She pulled another redstone out of her pocket and placed it in the moonstone's place. The staff unwrapped itself and turned it into a beautiful silver blade with various floral designs. A flower slowly floated aside her as it glowed with magic as petals slowly peeled away and more grew in their place. Closing her eyes as her clothes glowed and were replaced. A long back coat with fancy embroidery covered her body and a short red skirt that was held up with various belts. Her heels were replaced with short heeled boots and even with an outfit changed it didn't do anything to help her wounds. The blood only started to stain the fabric. 

Melia stared down at her chest and to her artificial heart. She could heal herself and allow herself to be in fighting condition if she took some of the aether that rested inside. But, that would mean certain death. She looked over at her brother and crawled over to him. Melia placed a quick kiss on her moonstone and placed it on her brother's chest before looking over at Zenos. She couldn't help but glare and she wasn't going to let him stop her here. They needed to return and without another thought she turned her blade to her chest. 

[cinnabun-faerie]

WoL takes Meteion to RAD (Part 1)

A/N: How about the WoL takes Meteion to RAD?

I split up the request as I've written so much already. So you can find part 2 here !

Warning: SEVERE SPOILER WARNING! Do not go further if you have NOT finished Endwalker!! The demon brothers breaking down.

Context : (Yes, the first bit is a little summery with my own little additions, so please bare with me)

The WOL (you) had been to RAD before the events of Endwalker

and y'know how the story goes

When you meet Meteion you can't help but miss Luke

as you treat him like your son

Meteion loves you just as much as a parent

like she did with Hermes

For that brief moment in time, there was happiness

But things go wrong

she intends to destroy the world

and eventually you have to go find her before that happens

You lose all the your closest friends in the mix

But thanks to Emet-Selch & Hythlodaeus, you get them back

And there's a moment where you think everything will be fine as Meteion's wings and such turn back to it's blue color

and you swear you can hear Hermes' voice

the Meteia doesn't want to listen to her when she pleads for them to stop

and you have no choice but to send your friends back to the ship

long story short, you fight the Meteia and then Zenos

and you die

or so you think

the demons you have pacts with can feel this

they feel pain

they know something is happening

and it isn't good

it's a too familiar feeling

Satan is feeling this pain for the first time

where before any pain was a memory

and he doesn't know how to handle this

the only person who really understood him...is dying

and he can't do a thing to stop it

he tries to sleep but he screams into his pillow

it pains Lucifer to hear it

he checks up on him when he finally hears him calm down

Mammon is freaking out

he's screaming and crying that he has to go to you

Lucifer has to magically lock the house so none of them leave

Leviathan locks himself away in his room

he silently breaks down

telling himself over and over again that he shouldn't have invested his feelings into a normie

it was bound to end badly anyways

he would always be alone in the end

Beel and Belphie go silent, refusing to speak to anyone

barely each other

Belphie goes to get Beel food and Beel lets Belphie sleep as long as he wants

both want to do something but they're so exhausted

they feel your pain

Asmo becomes numb

He pretends that everything is fine

but he's hurting

but no one needs to see it

and Lucifer, for the first time in a while, he doesn't know what to do

there's no solution

Diavolo had a sinking feeling in his chest

so he asked Barbatos to look in the past & future

meanwhile while you were teleported to the ship, Meteion was waiting with the Scions

and after some healing, you would be okay

Meteion was happy to see you awake

happy to see you alive

And she returns to Eorzea with you

because she likes being by your side

and you'd like to show her a whole new happy world

"I think I know someone who you'll be good friends with."

and that was when you saw him

"Y/N."

"Barbatos? What are you doing here?"

"Taking you back to the Devildom. You've caused quite a stir."

"Saves me a trip. I was about to teleport there. I wanted to bring Meteion to meet you all."

"Hi, Meteion."

he'd look down at her with a soft smile

now if he had not seen everything that had gone with her, he would definately would have banished her to the depths of oblivion

but he saw her change and he saw how she adored you

and saw what would become of her and you

so he wasn't worried

Meteion was very worried at first when she saw him

holding tightly to your hand and hiding behind you

"It's alright. Barbatos is very nice."

when he smiled at her and reached out his hand to her

she trusted in your words

maybe he didn't hate her

that was a good start

"Meteion, do you wanna help us with something?"

she would look up at you, silently asking if it were okay

you smile and nod and she agrees happily

"There's seven brothers who need some hope. And only you can deliver that hope for them."

"But how can I give them hope?"

"We surprise them with Y/N. They miss them a lot."

"Okay!"

with both of you holding her hand, you teleport to the Devildom

and she meets Diavolo

who welcomes her with open arms

"Lucifer and the others are on their way."

And with that said, the brothers walk in

Diavolo and Barbatos stand in front of you

but Meteion stands next to Barbatos, still holding his hand

"You arrived on time. I have a special surprise. Or rather, our special guest has a surprise for you."

Barbatos urges Meteion forward with a smile

"Go ahead."

Meteion stands before the brothers who are confused

who is this bird girl?

why is she in the devildom of all places?

she's nervous, clutching at her skirt

Barbatos moves forward and puts his hand on her head

"You can do it."

She smiles, feeling determined

"I brought someone special for you! Can I tell them?"

"Of course."

"It's Y/N!"

. . .

to be continued...