#FFxivWrite2024 prompt list

[sea-wolf-coast-to-coast]

Prompt #1: Steer

Submit your entry here: https://forms.gle/jDWjFKfmeaGnH3PL9

#FFxivWrite2024 is underway – a daily writing challenge presented to the Final Fantasy XIV writing community for the month of September. You can join any time throughout the challenge with any prompt number! Entries can be written on any online writing platform (tumblr, Archive of our Own, Google Docs, etc.). Submit the link and be sure that I have reading access. Reminder: The 24-hour deadline does not go into effect until September 8th at 12:00 pm PDT. Check you entries here in the Public Spreadsheet

Rules & Info || Prompt List || #FFxivWrite2024 || kofi

[devonhinged]

[FFxivWrite2024] Horizon

Endwalker ending spoilers! About the aftermath of Ultima Thule. If you've been following my tweets this might be easier to understand...

Zenos lies overlapping the horizon. The light grazed the roots of his hair that were still golden. The alien yet earthly warm light. In this vast space where there is nothing else but them, despite himself, Saga stretches out a hand towards him. Zenos is merely a few ilms away. If Saga moved about his torso, maybe he could nudge himself far enough to touch him. But it seems like he had lost all the muscle for it. 

He still sees and hears, but he's fighting a very heavy sleep. 

... a gift, or a burden? 

For a moment, in this warmth, Saga remembers laying on the floor of his childhood bedroom, letting the window open and the sun in. 

"Don't you dare.... Bastard."

He grimaces in tears. Pain slowly setting in the longer that he's awake, along with an incredible sadness. He never came back home.

"Don't you... dare die before me." His fingers curl into his palm, but too weak to push his own nails in. Zenos no longer speaks to him. Hell would've frozen over. "I thought you wanted to fight. I thought you'd live for it forever." Saga is not too sure if he's still speaking himself.... 

He let go of his fight to breathe. So this was all his life was going to be. In the end, there is no end to it after all. Only one step after the other, every moment of every second, until he can't do another. And all these people he's leaving behind, his greatest nightmare still manages to come true.

...I don't want to die alone.

. 

. 

. 

The more he slips into unconsciousness, the more he is calm. At least, his soul feels happy. Had he done a good job then? He is wrapped in an old, familiar embrace. Alike, but not of his brother or even his mom. Not even from his earliest childhood memory. He slips deeper and deeper into it, it’s like a cold blanket. He reckoned... his soul must've been very old.

Is that really enough? 

I understand what we must do, but I don't know what to do anyway...

I'm scared to be alone, I'll be honest. 

What if I forget everything? What if we all do? 

Do I just keep on going?

A faint echo. Trickling water. Smell of wet soil. The sun hitting his scalp and rocks beneath his feet. There were distant footsteps somewhere echoing around him. Saga doesn't think he is anywhere new. He's been here this whole time.

Then I will, no matter what. Even if I lose the purpose. 

If that's all you ask, then it seems easy enough. 

I'll keep going for the sake of it. I will trust you. 

And I'll see you again. 

That was as vivid as it comes, then the dream fades away again, as if he is slowly waking up. But there's nothing on the other side of his closed eyes. There's only that distant, echoing footsteps. Not even getting louder or fainter, only at a consistent pace. As if they're walking with him. He only stays in one place, though. He's not going anywhere. So he doesn't know where they're going. 

Here, he is not alone. He's never been alone. He's been here this whole time. 

Saga's eyes are flooded with light and he gasps for air.

[morganabrowne]

While I am amused at the fact I made it with 69 seconds to spare, this is a habit I do not wish to keep to my name, but here we are.

Enjoy a drabble of Morgana being put through her paces by her friend Cynthia! Thank you to @escherstrange-ffxiv for the inspiration on this one. If you have not checked out their work before, you should!

[thevikingwoman]

AO3 Year End Roundup 2024

Tagged by @myreia and @galadrieljones, thank you friends!!

Tagging: I am even later, but let me tag @roguelioness @redinkofshame @wickedwitchofthewilds @astrology-bf @superfluouskeys

@galadae @buttsonthebeach

—Words posted: 34,520 (including the ffxivwrite2024 pieces I didn't get together to post to ao3 until today, but it was up on tumblr in sept!)

—Additional Words Written: Unknown! My words written counter is a little less than this, as some of the works posted was started in 2023 or earlier.

—Grand total of words: My counter says around 28,500 written in 2024

—Fandoms: FFXIV, Wayfarer, Dragon Age Inquisition (AU)

—Works: 17 (inlcuding ffxivwrite2024 anothology)

—Highest Kudos: Casual Fun (Dragon Age solavellan, explicit). Not really a big surprise that a major pairing in a large fandom with lots of writer love beat out my rare pairs in a fandom with less writing/reading focus.

—Highest Hit One-shot: Also Casual Fun

—New Things I Tried: I did ffxivwrite for the first time, and it was a ton of fun! I've done a prompt/day challenge before, but this was the first one where the prompts are not known before hand. I didn't do all days, but the ones that spoke to me, and it was great! it was my most productive month.

I also wrote explicit m/m for the first time in To the Victor, the Spoils (FFXIV Magnai/Hien, explicit). I can't believe I did before, but I haven't. I was quite pleased with it!

—Fic I Spent the Most Time On: The Lovers (Meryta/Tansui, explicit). This fic is listed as "relationship talk" in my tracking sheet, and it's something I worked on intermittently from January to May - and it's been in my mind longer.

It was really important to me to write how Meryta's and Tansui's relationship changes. It's a physical fling first that grows, and I wanted to have an honest and mature conversation about exclusivity that worked in the world. And to stay true to their cheeky and teasing nature. I'm really pleased with the Xaela lore I weaved in along with both how intense Tansui feels about it, their different approaches to a relationship (Meryta is demi-romantic) and also their playfulness (it started as a silly thought, which is how they always behave in my head). It meant a lot to me and it took a lot of work; I actually went and wrote part of their conversation from both their POVs to figure out what was going on.

—Fic I Spent the Least Time On: Stamp, which I've not even counted in my ao3 count, since it's so silly, not canon, and not going on ao3.

For published fics, Casual Fun, since it was finishing something that was a few years old for "finish your WIP February" and I just cleaned it up and wrapped in up in 3 days (short for me!)

—Favourite Thing I Wrote: This is a very hard question! I did love writing The Lovers, and my Hien/Magnai fics, and all my Meryta/Tansui fics - they're just ughghgh to me.

but I think my favorite things was actually Choices, which is a Meryta introspective Shadowbringers piece - it's short and deals with the lack of agency and the Exarch and all the feelings she's going through in the story. I just really loved fleshing this out.

—Favorite Thing I Read: I'm going to be extremely selfish and say Familiar Shores by @myreia, your wrote my blorbos and you wrote them so well and I'm just SO happy reading it.

otherwise, I read many great things - I love all of what @myreia writes, and I had other fun things I read, like see me bare my teeth for you by meepfather, such a lovely and wellwritten piece and I love the aura head canons.

I also re-read @ellstersmash's nothing on my tongue for the umpteenth time, a perpetual favorite

—Something I Finished: I tend to write one-shots, so I finished many things! I love writing one shots, and it's much easier for me to write a moment than a story arch. I started out 2024 by finishing Solace and Breakfast, which really was the groundwork for all my Meryta/Tansui fics, and the productivity I had this year

—Miscellaneous Highlights: My word count was pretty typical for a "productive" year for me, and I'm glad I found footing in writing ffxiv and Meryta - along with Hien and Magnai. I have not been writing much since my interest in writing Dragon Age tapered off, Iwyn settled with Solas in my mind. I was excited to pick up writing more again!

I also tracked my writing and tried to write every day. it did fall apart in the summer, and after October, but overall it's a good goal to have, and I'll pick it up again (next week. hehe).

I'm also really happy to revisit my Wayfarers for a small Wayfarer event, I love them and the story so much!

Lastly, I was very happy to write a small piece for @myreia, I do love writing gift fics, but it's also a bit nervewrecking writing other people's characters. Meryta-as-an-adventurer was fun to visit and how she'd see Aureia!

—Writing Goals for 2025:

I want to write more Meryta. I love her, and there's lots to fill out. I started and outlined a multichapter of her time on the Steppe in Stormblood - as this turned out so important for her. I do hope to get to write more on it.

I also have more Tansui and Meryta ideas, and I am SO close to finishing Endwalker - I want to flesh out how their relationship develops during that time. in addition, I think I'll try to do @yearoftheotpevent! I'm excited for the prompts.

I would love to do ffxivwrite again, and I'd love to revisit my Wayfarers. Then I will probably play veilguard, and who knows if that will make me return to Dragon Age.

—Final Thoughts:

I really like being a multifandom, and multiship writer. While right now 80% of my brain is Meryta and Tansui, it's so fun to have other things to explore. I have a half-written estimeric piece, I have more Hien and Magnai ideas...

I think I'm still struggling with writing a rarepair and ffxiv's lack of writer engagement, but I will carry on and forward and remember the joy writing bring me in it's self - and the dear people reading my writing 💚

[ffxivaltaholic]

FFXIVWrite2024: Master List

Prompt Master List:

Week 1: Prompt 1: Steer | Jellal Prompt 2: Horizon | Zhira Prompt 3: Tempest | Tlalli Prompt 4: Reticent | Tsirae Prompt 5: Stamp | N'akani Prompt 6: Halcyon | Ame Prompt 7: Morsel | Isanii

Week 2: Prompt 8: (You Pick) Prickle | Diarmune Prompt 9: Lend an Ear | Jellal Prompt 10: Stable | Ame/N'akani Prompt 11: Surrogate | Isanii Prompt 12: Quarry | Diarmune Prompt 13: Butte | Tsirae Prompt 14: Telling | Zhira

Week 3: Prompt 15: (you pick!) Lessons in Patience | Tlalli Prompt 16: Third-Rate | Jellal Prompt 17: Sally | Tsirae Prompt 18: Hackneyed | Ame Prompt 19: Taken | Isanii Prompt 20: Duel | Zhira Prompt 21: Shade | Diarmune

Week 4: Prompt 22: (You Pick) Homecoming | N'akani Prompt 23: Cloud-Nine | Ame Prompt 24: Bar | Jellal Prompt 25: Perpetuity | Tlalli Prompt 26: Zip | Isanii Prompt 27: Memory | Zhira Prompt 28: Deleterious | Tsirae

Week 5: Prompt 29: (You Pick) Divergence | Diarmune Prompt 30: Two Heads Are Better Than One | Dalain

Notes: Once again I am very happy to have completed the entire list.  It was fun to write and expand on my character's and their stories and to introduce my Hrothgal Tlalli, as well as bring back a retired character for one final prompt.  Thank you @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast for everything and once again providing a fantastic month of writing! I hope you have a relaxing October! <3

Previous Years:

FFXIV Write 2023 FFXIV Write 2022 FFXIV Write 2021 FFXIV Write 2020

[wayward-travelers]

FFXIVwrite2024 #13

Prompt: butte

Words: 590 Rating: T Characters: Aku (main, Bozjan hrothgar), a bunch of random garlean NPCs Spoilers: Endwalkers (takes place around MSQ lvl 97)

The mountains descended upon the plain like fortifications around the city, bumping on the ground here and there, forming buttes, hills and cliffs atop which few buildings had been raised.

As one coming from a land surrounded by enemies or would-be-enemies for all of its long history, it struck me—not even for the first time—as an odd choice. The strategy of a people who perhaps never expected to have to defend their city, having brought the war to lands so far away from the core of their Empire that they had forgotten nothing lasted forever.

One of those few buildings overlooking the city was a manor once owned by one of the Emperor's closest allies. A rare privilege, as sitting literally atop the city was normally reserved for the imperial family. But now, with the Atrocity overhanging above the plain of Garlemald, the manor remained as one of the few testimonies of a better time.

Yet, as we finish climbing and it finally appears in full view, I can't help being disappointed by the estate's brutish aspect. All grey stones and dark metal with few decorations and even less colors, it stands to me as the physical reminder of one of the Empire's greatest crimes: having invaded us all and still, somehow, not bringing even a sliver of good taste back to the Capital.

Not that I voice my opinion, of course.

"Shouldn't it be more... destroyed? one of the men asks behind me. - Perhaps the Tower claimed the soldiers before anyone had a chance to capture it. - Then let's hope no monster is sticking around. - Wait. Is that writing on the door? - Looks like it. What does it says? - Don't dead. Open inside. - What? It makes no sense. - Are you two stupid? It says Don't open, dead inside."

When the bickering continues, I clear my throat.

"Gentlemen. Could you please make even more noise just in case they haven't heard us yet? - Ah. Sorry, boss. - Pontius, Vestri, you go to the right. Drusus, with me. We take the left. We'll enter together from the back. If you see any sign of recent activity, warn us with your radio. - Yes, sir!"

And so we go. For a blessing, the reaper that accompanies me is silent and efficient. Unfortunately, our list of blessings stops there. While we see no sign of recent activity, we can see traces of infighting alongside the building. Bullets stuck in the walls, a snow mound that reveals, after inspection, the corpses of servants crudely executed, their bodies preserved impeccably by the cold—and, more worrying, rifles and garlean gunblades laying around. I've bumped against a few hidden under a thick layer of ice and snow by the time I reach the back door.

"Anything? I whisper when we meet with Pontius and Vestri. - Nothing new. Lots of weapons wasted outside, though. - The Tower probably got them soon after their fight. - In any case, there are dead inside. I took a look through a window. - What do we do? - What we came for," I say. "The Captain wants us to clear to place so we can bring refugees here: we clear the place so we can bring refugees here. - May I suggest something? - I'm listening, Pontius. - I should be able to attach the rope to the balcony above us," he says, patting the rope and hook at his belt. "If we enter from there, we'll have the high ground. - You're sure the rope can support my weight? - Garlean rope, sir. It's strong. - ... Alright, then. Let's do this."

[ink-dreams-ffxiv]

I admit...

@sea-wolf-coast-to-coast Writing Challenge has always been an inspiration for me to write. 90% of my "RP style Writing" is done in either Discord or In-Game. My most recent RP endeavors have been through: https://iyalibeauty.carrd.co/ Outside of that, the mental fog that COVID has left me with made writing difficult. Most of the prompts I was able to do for #FFXIVWrite2024 were due to short ideas I had already in mind. This time around, I had not only a character idea, but, the idea that the character was not in the WOL position, but, on an educational thesis regarding "Sharded People", IE: people who were part of the same "Shard" living in the same occurrence ((IE: People on the Source, who were parts of the same Shard of a person. Rather than being Shards of the "1St and Source" but both being Shards of the Source based on in-game RP)) Now that the #FFXIVWrite2024 has passed, I am at a loss of inspiration. My screenshots are all accidental. I was more of a creative writer, but have really been lacking not only inspiration, but, drive to be more creative with my writing. This isn't a request for inspiration, just, an observation of why my Tumblr seems to really drop off now. As for my OCs: Sahxa is very happily married to her Snowcatte Rocker Paladin of a wife with twin Miqo'kitts. Rehna, who is really my WoL character, is happily mated with her Viera lover, and a student of Sharlayan now, on research for her Archon status. Lhei, has attached himself to a Miqo'te Dragoon, and is in the process of working towards Ishgardian Citizenship. Kohl, well, her story line is VERY NSFW and limited ;) I do have 3 alts: One is for Screen Shot Crimes only. The 2nd is the character I use for spontaneous RP, though the issues with creativity had greatly limited her story line, she is the most adaptable. The 3rd, is a "Single Class" character with a growing backstory based on the lore openings created by Dawntrail. I may be slow to answer, but, random asks based on anything listed above will be answered. This isn't a "give me attention!" post, just a heads up, for those I have been interacting with more. As an aside: @nhaneh has an AMAZING! ship! their screenshots, and image story telling is absolutely Beautiful! @alannah-corvaine has been someone I have followed since my very beginning on FFXIV tumblr and has often been an inspiration to my own writing. @autumnslance is a storyteller who is just so skilled in their writing, I can't say enough. They too have been a huge inspiration to my writing. @hares-and-hounds is a new follow, who also has proven to be in depth with their story telling, and they have a new FC worth looking in to. @fheythfully just seems to throw up Screen shots that make my brain write up short stories based around those screen shots. Though, I have only put up One based on a screen shot, my mind has created so many many more, but, they require God Modding their characters and I don't want to do that. @gatheredfates has an entire discord that I need to get over my anxiety and join. They encourage writing!

@mythraltia was a great person to RP with on Tumblr. We never got the chance to RP in game, but, it was admittedly In-Game RP that caused me to take the character I was playing in a very different direction, I have never forgotten how much, and how easy it was to be on the same page with our RP.

There are many many others to explore in the FFXIV community! From Slice of Life stories/RP, to long term Stories/RP, and one shot encounters! There is an Entire World out there! Enjoy your Explorations!

[ser-corviknight]

FFxivWrite2024 Master List

Alright. Since I didn't post most of these on day of after writing, nearly all of them are back dated to the day that the prompt would correspond to.

Did I pay attention to the time when I was doing that? no.

Most of these have no context provided unless you already know the context, but if context is wanted... one would simply need to ask.

(They're all varying lengths, most on the shorter side though.)

Day 1 - Steer

Day 2 - Horizon

Day 3 - Tempest

Day 4 - Reticent

Day 5 - Stamp

Day 6 - Halcyon

Day 7 - Morsel

Day 8 - Fallen (Free Day)

Day 9 - Lend an Ear

Day 10 - Stable

Day 11 - Surrogate

Day 12 - Quarry

Day 13 - Butte

Day 14 - Telling

Day 15 - Payback (Free Day)

Day 16 - Third-Rate

Day 17 - Sally

Day 18 - Hackneyed

Day 19 - Taken

Day 20 - Duel

Day 21 - Shade

Day 22 - Victory (Free Day)

Day 23 - On Cloud Nine

Day 24 - Bar

Day 25 - Perpetuity

Day 26 - Zip

Day 27 - Memory

Day 28 - Deleterious

Day 29 - Future (Free Day)

Day 30 - Two Heads Are Better Than One

[alicesadventuresinffxiv]

FFxivWrite2024 Prompt #23

Title: Walking on cloud nine, trying not to look down

Wordcount: 843

Spoilers through: Endwalker, specifically the Pandaemonium storyline

Relationships & Characters: Athena/Hegemone

Summary: One possible (and very lesbian) explanation for why Hegemone kicked off the whole Pandaemonium plot.

(Figures I’d take the happiest prompt in the list… and run in a dark direction with it, haha. Many thanks to @oserillia-aenor for chatting through some ideas with me! And to @darquingdragon as well… I didn’t get to your cute Fordola/Lyse suggestion for this prompt, but perhaps another time!)

.

Cool-headed, logical Hegemone. Who did not take a day off work when her lover left her for a man of the oh-so-renowned Convocation. Who wore her most practiced smile on her face now, as the woman she’d considered a loyal partner for years indulgently patted the head of her son and sent him running off home with his father.

“Oh, do not resent them so!” Athena rose from her knees and turned her wide blue eyes on Hegemone. “Surely you have guessed, have you not?”

“Guessed what, Chief Keywarden?” Hegemone feigned interest in the report on her desk, feigned professionalism in her use of Athena’s formal title. “Attaining godhood is not an endeavor which I prefer to attempt via guesswork.”

“Ah, what would I do without your blunt honesty and exacting calculations?” The ambitious keywarden neatly plucked the report from Hegemone’s hands and rifled through the pages. Such was the mark of her intelligence that she needed no more to grasp its contents. “No, you’re quite right. I’ve been weaving this cocoon all by myself whilst assuming my followers would simply divine the plan from my esoteric movements.”

“And that plan is…?” Goodness, if the woman didn’t drive Hegemone up a wall with her capricious leaps in logic. And yet, it was that same unfettered genius that had drawn the quiet academic to her in the first place. Who else but Athena would propose such an absurdity as godhood yet intend every word, every star-shattering implication to what she said?

“They are but stepping stones, dearest. Naught more. A man whose power and connections will prove a boon to our research, and a son to mold into a perfect vessel.” Athena sat down on the top of Hegemone’s solid black desk and crossed her legs, allowing just a hint of her legs to peek past her robes. “A goddess needs pawns, does She not?”

Hegemone kept her cool mask in place, yet inside her chest, her heart beat with wild hopes. If Athena’s sudden dalliance was a mere ruse, a pragmatic blip in the eons they had worked together, then perhaps… “If they are mere pawns, then what am I?”

“Oh, beloved.” Athena reached across to stroke her cheek, and Hegemone felt as though she were melting into those soulful blue eyes. “You are my chosen one.”

“Chosen one?” All that pent-up jealousy, all that pent-up grief Hegemone had kept chained at the back of her mind vanished. It was as though she were suddenly walking on clouds. “Me?”

“Who else would it be? Not stodgy old Lahabrea and his precious Convocation of red tape.” Athena nuzzled her face into Hegemone’s hair and breathed a contented sigh. “Once I’ve become a god, I will need a loyal priestess to sing my praises to the masses. And who has more ardently worshipped at my feet than you?”

“Worship” was certainly one word to describe what she’d done with Athena behind Pandaemonium’s closed doors. One of the few that might be appropriate to print in the academic paper Hegemone still had idle dreams of publishing. But, as usual, Athena’s grandiose descriptions held a seed of truth at their core. 

I would do anything for you. Become anything for you, if that is what you wished of me.

Hegemone had uttered those words when she’d glimpsed the full extent of Athena’s plans, and the embers of that passion now flared back to intoxicating life.

“I would worship you still, if you would but give me another chance.”

At that, Athena shook her head insistently. “You never lost your chance, beloved. I have been waiting for you all this time.” 

“You were testing my faith.” The realization dawned on Hegemone as though she beheld the sun’s blessing for the first time. Why had she doubted Athena? She knew the woman better than anyone. Now look what her petty jealousy and childish impatience had wrought - Athena was devastated, and it was Hegemone’s fault.

"Indeed."

Nothing would come between them and their shared goals, certainly not some strange man in his ostentatious red mask.

“Yet I’m afraid I will soon do so again,” Purest sorrow radiated from Athena’s expression, but determined steel glinted in her eyes. “To ascend, I must needs free myself from the inadequacies of this mortal flesh. And when the time comes, I cannot rely on Lahabrea.” She took Hegemone’s face in her hands, gazing deep into her lover’s adoring eyes. “My glorious rebirth, I entrust to you.”

“I will see it done,” Hegemone whispered, her heart swelling fit to burst with pride. Never in all their years together had Athena asked of her a more vital task. Never had she played such an irreplaceable role in their monumental efforts.

“I know you will.” As Athena pressed her lips to Hegemone’s, it felt as though her soul brushed up against her lover’s. As though faint tendrils of Athena's essence were seeping into Hegemone’s mind, softly caressing her thoughts and entwining themselves into her most secret places. “For I have chosen well.”

Never had Hegemone been happier.

[altaniadventures]

Prompt #3: Tempest

Submit your entry here: https://forms.gle/jDWjFKfmeaGnH3PL9

#FFxivWrite2024 is underway – a daily writing challenge presented to the Final Fantasy XIV writing community for the month of September. You can join any time throughout the challenge with any prompt number! Entries can be written on any online writing platform (tumblr, Archive of our Own, Google Docs, etc.). Submit the link and be sure that I have reading access. Reminder: The 24-hour deadline does not go into effect until September 8th at 12:00 pm PDT. Check you entries here in the Public Spreadsheet

Rules & Info || Prompt List || #FFxivWrite2024 || kofi

Dawntrail Spoilers, ye be warned.

Prompt #3: Tempest

She was just sitting in the rain. G'raha watched her sit on the dock at the end of the inn pier for a long time as the storm beat down.

The rest of the scions still in Tuliyollal had wanted to grab a meal together. It started raining soon after his search began. He was betting that dinner had been cancelled. No one had come looking for him.

She was still as beautiful as the day the door closed on him. Things were never the same between them after that. He waited over a hundred years for her, but she slipped out of his hands just as easily as she had slipped into them.

She was different now. Yes, she wore the same black braids as always even if the beads were different. Her skin was the same velvety purple. Her eyes were not the same.

Right now they were closed, but those blue-rimmed violets had a sadness to them that rivaled a dragon's sorrow.

"I know you're there," Altani said, eyes still closed.

G'raha walked over and sat down next to her. "Warrior's instinct?" he asked with a smile.

Altani shrugged, avoiding looking at him. "Au ra hearing. And just because you're old as fuck now doesn't mean you ever stopped with your bad habits. Your tail shifts when you're thinking."

"Old in spirit, but technically young in body," he corrected. "So why are we sitting in the rain?"

She didn't move for a long moment. He thought that she might not have heard his question, but she finally answered.

"I was thinking about memories ever since we fought Robot Woman," she said. "And of course, that led me to you. What we did to you. I put the memories of the Exarch in you without asking. I wanted him to live. I wanted him to go on an adventure with me." Her eyes started to well up. She grimaced and took a deep breath, trying to force the tears back. "I just. I just need to know if you hate me for it. If I made the wrong choice."

G'raha took her hand. "If I could take the memories of every version of myself that had memories of you, I would," he replied. "Damn all the other G'rahas."

Altani stopped sniffling and stared in shock at him. She shoved him in disbelief. "Raha, that's insane! What the hell is wrong with you?"

He shrugged. "If they have some piece of you that I don't have, I want it. Since we're all the same, I'm sure they'd all agree." He reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek. "To know you is to love you. Any choice that lets me know you more could never be wrong in my eyes."

Altani wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. The rain finally stopped. The sun began to peek out from behind the clouds, clearing up the skies.

G'raha patted her back gently as he held her. At last, the storm was finally over.

[sea-wolf-coast-to-coast]

Prompt #3: Tempest

Submit your entry here: https://forms.gle/jDWjFKfmeaGnH3PL9

#FFxivWrite2024 is underway – a daily writing challenge presented to the Final Fantasy XIV writing community for the month of September. You can join any time throughout the challenge with any prompt number! Entries can be written on any online writing platform (tumblr, Archive of our Own, Google Docs, etc.). Submit the link and be sure that I have reading access. Reminder: The 24-hour deadline does not go into effect until September 8th at 12:00 pm PDT. Check you entries here in the Public Spreadsheet

Rules & Info || Prompt List || #FFxivWrite2024 || kofi

[devonhinged]

[FFxivWrite2024] Steer

I tried. It's about Saga's relationship with magiteks and chocobos and there's a coherent point in it somewhere if you maybe squint hard enough

-

"You'd have experience riding an animal, no?" 

Saga nodded to his supervisor. An Elezen man of middling age. His walking cane claps alongside his wide heels, a particular pair of sound that had always given his arrival from malms away. He brought Saga into the large garage west of the landing where they test magitek mobiles. Big and small. Saga rarely gets to this side of the factory. In fact, he's rarely able to see any finished armour at all. 

"Well, then just imagine it's more or less the same." They briskly walked towards one newly assembled magitek reaper, shiny and smelling of fresh coating. An association pops up in his mind. His eyes traced its shape from its singular steel claws, to the strangely avian "beak" and legs. The bat-like wings on each side of its cockpit. What is this, a mockery of....

"A chocobo…?" 

The heels squeaked on the floor as the supervisor abruptly stopped. Saga shouldn't have said anything. 

"Ah, even better. Then you’ve gotten the feel of steering a two legged mobile." He said, cracking his red splotched knuckles two, three times. “Well then. At the end of this fiscal year at least, you'll get your qualification. Should be enough time for you to learn, right?”

"Yessir."

“Any, other questions.” He pushed his sleeves back to check his watch. 

“Nossir.”

He tapped Saga’s shoulder firmly and staggering him backwards. 

"Keep in mind, keep this a secret from your boss. She’d make it difficult if she found out I'm trying to steal her lackeys again.” Then, with a grimace, he nodded for emphasis, “Just pass all your tests." 

“... Yessir.”

“If you are to be a technician you have to understand the machines in its whole. What better way than to master the end product, no? That is the tests’ purpose.” He let go, finally. ”So go on and start giving one a ride.”

“This one, sir?” 

“Of course not.” He started walking away. “Talk to one of the young men over there and they'll give you the course. Don't take too long.”

The clapping of heels and cane slowly echoed away. Saga was tiny in that garage. 

-

Despite its cumbersome main body, he supposed the engineering of its two legs and joints made it possible to steer the reaper in a relatively agile manner. They maintain speed atop steep slopes and stairs, into sharp 90 degree angles, and even perform an explosive enough jump to go over concrete fences. It’s not even remotely close to steering a chocobo, not at all, not even the slightest. But perhaps his supervisor meant that it requires… the same mindset?

This one given to him doesn't smell of coating, only rubber and exhaust. Saga’s palm sweated around the controls stick. He had to wipe his hands on the side of his pants several times. He didn't know why. When he thought about it, he'd seen these reapers before. Perhaps when he still lived in Rabanastre. Perhaps in a picture. Hey, these leg joints honestly looked like a headache to maintain. Is a technician going to deal with that often? He didn't like thinking about it. 

He wished these were truly like chocobos. He's quite upset that his supervisor would lie about that. He missed those birds, and he missed the farm. Whenever he gets to come back, the chocobos are the first thing he's checking!

—

Cold breeze swept past the Shroud. It brought the smell of coins. It is usually very still here, so still he'd have a hard time traversing it unnoticed. Then again so does everything else, including these small groups of Garlean soldiers. 

Saga stepped over their dead bodies and kicked the model [insert random numbers] reaper. Normally he'd take a knife to it immediately and dislodge the ceruleum tank out of its belly—sell it for weeks worth of gil to some Ishgardian merchant—but he felt strangely morose about this one. He climbed and dragged the pilot out of its cockpit, careful not to get blood everywhere, and got in it himself. 

If he is seen driving this around the duskwights would have a field day with him, but how nice would it be to have a vehicle to move around here eh? Especially after the calamity. If it isn't disgustingly loud maybe he could use it for a supply trip. Too bad its fate is to be butchered into scraps. 

He noticed movements in the corner of his eye many yalms over. Likely a carnivore smelling blood. But, as he observed longer, it was clearly a bright red creature. What poor animal is given those hide amongst these foliages? 

Perhaps… its fate would also be under his knife, he thinks, licking his lip. Saga abandoned this stupid bout of sentimentality and jumped down, fishing out several arrows from his quiver into his hand. 

What came into view however, was a chocobo with feathers a deep shade of red. The yellow barding of the Adder’s Nest is a bigger contrast as a result. It must've escaped. Have they started shipping Dalmascan chocobos into Eorzea? Must be an expensive venture. Saga would be putting a bright red target on his head for doing this, but….

—

Welp I ran out of time. So he definitely stole that chocobo and got attached instead of selling it (or eating it.) Let's just leave it at that

[morganabrowne]

Prompt #1 - Steer It's late, but it's done. That's what matters.

[nosafeharbour]

Day 7: Morsel

For prompt Morsel, as part of FFxivWrite2024. A routine rendezvous, post-Endwalker.

“Who’s that guest the Warrior of Light is entertaining? The large fellow.”

“The Garlean?” Dickon replies nonchalantly, not looking up from where he is wiping down the counter.

“Oh, is he?” His employee shuffles him past to lean over, devoid of grace and distracted from work, and peers over at the far table. “Ah, so he is. I don’t have my spectacles on.”

“Aye. He visits every so often, on business. Assisting with the refugees, from what I hear.” Dickon gives up on keeping his counter spotless in such lively company and instead now picks up a glass from the rack, drying it with the rag hung from his apron. “Though I doubt that’s his only business.”

“… What do you mean?” 

“I hear,” the clean glass is put down, soon replaced by a handful of drying cutlery, “he has eyes for the Warrior of Light.”

“What, all three of them? Come off it, boss.”

“I’m serious! The two of them come here for coffee every time the gent is in town. And it’s always just the two of them, nary a third party in sight.” Dickon punctuates the statement with the jab of a spoon, acting as if he were not the proprietor of a café, but one of the scholars they fed, reaching a breakthrough.

“He must know he’s barking up the wrong tree, surely?”

“I wouldn’t be so sure…” The two pause, pointedly trying not to stare. The Last Stand is fairly quiet at this time, no orders to be prepped at current, just a steadily shrinking list of small tasks and busywork before evening dinner service begins. The lull means that the voices of patrons were easy to pick out, and the two share a glance at the sound of Albi’s laughter ringing out across the decking. If the nosier of the gawking pair were wearing their glasses, perhaps they’d spot a smile upon her companion’s countenance.

“I’m not getting involved.” Dickon suddenly composes himself, the dishrag now pointing accusingly at his employee. “And I’m not pushing it further. If gossip spreads from here, it will reflect poorly on business. I appreciate my good standings with the Scions, thank you very much.”

“But you’re the one that brought up that morsel of gossip, boss.” comes the resulting whine, before they both get back to work.

[ffxivaltaholic]

Prompt #3: Tempest

#FFxivWrite2024

"She is truly wild, a hurricane of rage, this beast, a Ligaka, that bared beak and talon in battle with reckless abandonment. Vicious, like a raging storm that rained feathers down upon her foes, I gazed upon her as she flew overhead, watching me with dark eyes. I am an intruder to her. While she was not the one I sought out most, she was on the list. The colors of her plumage were close, a mix of vibrant green and striking yellow, with warm orange accents bristling through the creature's massive wings, but the one I sought most was more vibrant and larger, with a cracked beak and a broken talon, compliments of my departed mother. But for now, I had a job to do and a village to protect, just as mother had done before me. I am a hunter, and I specialize in elite hunts, where beasts of impressive size and skill had to be culled. It's in my blood, and I'm damn good at it..." An impressive creature, one Tlalli ultimately respected to a degree, but once they grew to this size it became a threat to the village, as the territorial bird would start attacking villagers and livestock alike. There were many over the years she had felled, mostly in search for the one that had cost Tlalli her mother, and every time the Ligaka's name appeared on the hunt board, she would take the job, ever hoping to find that one elusive beast and prove herself. To redeem her mother's name and to finally let her spirit rest peacefully. Yet to the day, now in her thirties, the massive monster had not appeared again.

Perhaps it had already been slayed? Her father had sought the beast for many years too, only relenting once his body could no longer handle the harsh terrain and aggressive wildlife, now he taught the next generation from the safety of the village. Her brother had taken a different path, rather than taking up the blade or spear, he settled into crafting, and had honed his skills with weaving beautiful clothes and tapestries. Tlalli was the only one left to carry on for her mother, Xitllali, for whom she was named after, and she did her work with pride.

"You going to come down you feathery bastard?" She called up, eying the beast with a cheeky little grin. "It is time for you to be grounded." Despite working along-side the Vipers, Tlalli had a habit of using spears and lances in her hunts, carrying a short spear in one hand and a longer one in the other. She had picked up this style specifically suited for flying monsters, a means of bringing them down to her level. The Ligaka would scream down at her, a shriek that one felt to their bones, a challenge, and then it swooped. Exactly as expected. Springing into action the Hrothgar would wind up, her short spear arched back with her arm, waiting for the exact moment to release it. The monster descended closer, and she took a deep breath, exhaling as the spear was loosed, her powerful arm launching the weapon with precision and honed skill. In the past she had tried to down the beasts by hitting their chest, but the thick feathered plumage would often soften the impact, and she'd lost a few good spears that way as her target fled. It was best to take out a wing and bring the Ligaka crashing to the ground. At times that was enough to make the kill, other times she quickly dispatched it, not wanting to bring unnecessary suffering. Years of honing her skills paid off in the moment as the vile shrieking tantrum of the beast was disrupted by Tlalli's spear, lodged in the left wing, causing the diving Ligaka to crash to the dirt below with a heavy thud. The fall, along with the animal's weight, was enough to stun it and allow for her to make a killing blow. Retrieving the spear, Tlalli would look past the line of trees, to where others waited and upon bringing a hand to her lips, she sounded the whistle to indicate it was safe. From there some others would join her to clean up the carcass. Nothing was wasted, that would be an insult to the Ligaka. While eliminating it was necessary to protect those in the area, it also provided food and tools from it's remains. Even the feathers would be taken and used in various items and outfits. Everything had a use. Taking a single long tailfeather for her collection, and proof of her work, Tlalli would retrieve a crumpled piece of paper and punch a small hole through the middle with her thumb nail. The hunt flier was complete and she could go and claim the bounty. Another beast felled, but no closer to her 'golden alpaca'. The monster of her childhood.

One day, she would find it.

[the-wardens-torch]

FFXIVwrite2024: Stamp

Prompt #5, Entry #3

((From when Fal first arrived on the mainland with his mother.))

The red ink of the custom agent's stamp had barely dried, but Falerin's eyes seemed to see past it to the black letters beneath.

The word "Arcita" appeared twice… Once listed as the port of origin, and again where his surname should have been.

Each "Arcita" was written in a different hand… The first penned by a Maelstrom sailor in a rough, hurried hand, and the second by an Ul'Dahn customs agent in a practiced script.

When he'd first boarded the ship in Arcita, his paperwork had been an afterthought. No one felt they needed to nitpick, and sailors hate paperwork. After all, he and his mother were friends of the late Rymmharr Sylbundsyn. No one who had known them or Rymm could imagine them causing any trouble. He even carried with him Rymmharr's exquisite old accordion, left to him in writing when he died.

The arrival in Vesper Bay had been different. What little they owned had been searched mercilessly, everything from his mother's prayer fan to that old accordion, which he'd had to play to prove it wasn't full of stolen crystals or a ceruleum bomb or some other nonsense. After what felt like hours, they seemed content that this incongruous pair could be safely deposited on the mainland.

But there was one last thing, they said. The Hyuran boy's surname. Why wasn't it written on his passport?

He had been about to open his mouth, to sarcastically quip that it was the same last name as his mother's, but before he could speak, his mother had hissed at the customs agent, silencing them both. What a waste of time such a question was. Why couldn't they just go already? There had just been a calamity, for shite's sake. She had family in Thanalan and needed to make sure they were all right. Weren't there more important things to worry about? Her ears had been flat against her head, her golden gaze burning like the sacred flames of Azeyma herself. Even her tail bristled with anger, flipping behind her as if writhing in agony.

Rather than face her ire, the agent had merely written something on his passport, stamped it and shoved it into Falerin's hand. He hadn't had time to look at it then, but once he did…

"Arcita."

His mother had already told him that giving him her last name would make no sense, as female Miqo'te surnames were given by their fathers, and male surnames were only to denote status in whatever tribe the man belonged to. And no, two strangers made family by circumstance didn't count as a tribe. On some level, he'd hoped they had moved beyond that line of thinking. But seeing "Arcita" written so neatly and so permanently dragged him right back over that line, black ink bleeding slightly into red. But it made a blunt, clumsy sort of sense. It was common among Hyurs to name bastards, orphans and people of no particular import after whatever city they were born in. He could have been all three, for all he knew.

But what did a piece of paper matter anyway?

((Wow, I wrote this in about 80 minutes. I think that's some kind of speed record for me.))