#Like damn Urianger deserved better

[coldharbourcompact]

FFXIV WoL questions: 1-14 :3

DAMN, KRYS LMAO

Now that I can open up about his condition I can answer this more openly.

Why did they pick their first class/job? What about the job they main now?

He had been meaning to study to be an Arcanist but he ended up following the path of Conjury instead because he felt more drawn to the idea of healing through connection to nature. He had always been attuned to the natural world, and the idea of being a healer was extremely appealing to him. Eventually, that lead him to be a White Mage for quite some time.

When he traveled to Ishgard, he was immediately drawn to the study of astrology and astronomy, the idea of being able to divine the threads of fate while also being able to heal was awe-inspiring to him. Now he's an Astrologian and a fairly good one at that. He's still studying to be even better though. He's got a very hands-on approach to it, he often travels using the stars to navigate where he goes.

Does your WoL have a recurring nightmare (or more)? What is it?

His nightmares are a symptom of his trauma, so he has a lot of dreams about conflicts with his mother, and also bad experiences with dealing with the repercussions of his DID. He also has a lot of extremely vivid nightmares about things and concepts too horrific for him to talk about, or even have the ability to describe.

Who do they worry about the most?

E V E R Y O N E. Seriously, he has generalized anxiety so he’s constantly worried about people, let alone people he’s close to. 

What’s their alcohol tolerance like? (if they drink)

EXTREME lightweight. Two drinks and he's gone. That's why he only drinks socially, and it's always one small drink. It makes him really tired.

What is the first impression most people have of them? Is it different when they get to know them?

He comes off as a little strange, and also sad? People often get the impression that he's sad for some reason, probably because of his eyes and resting expression. And the fact that he's often alone off in the corner.

He IS kind of sad a lot but he's also a very warm and friendly person. You'd think he'd be miserable and mopey, but he does his best not to be. Also if you get him talking about something he's interested in he will go OFF.

Is that their natural hair color?

Yes, but when he was younger his hair was dark brown. It somehow just transitioned to black over the course of his adulthood.

How have they dealt with losing people?

Terribly, lmao. He isolates, won’t see anyone, stays in bed even though he can’t sleep. Mostly he’s scared that people will be angry with him, or hate him for failing to save someone. 

How do they feel about the fame/infamy that comes with being a Warrior of Light/Darkness?

It's a lot of pressure and sometimes it gets overwhelming which is actually really bad for his DID. He has identity crises a lot, about whether or not he's really deserving of the title because who even is he?

But at the end of the day, he picks himself up and tells himself there are people that need help and he's the one to do it.

What does the way they’ve decorated their apartment and/or house (if they have one) say about them as a person?

It's cluttered with books and star charts and herbs and jars and candles and- Seriously though, it looks like a witch's hut. He claims he knows where everything is but he actually does not remember anything at any given moment. Due to the aforementioned DID, things are often not where he left them.

Do they misuse any of their abilities?

Yes and no. He has super mega ultra anxiety so he'll often divine what is going on with certain people he's worried about. He feels like he's being invasive about it.

What location do they dislike the most?

He doesn’t really have one? He travels a lot and is pretty fascinated with any place he goes. If he had to pick, he’s not a fan of the heat in Thanalan. 

Does anyone call them by a nickname? What do they think about it?

When he and Urianger eventually get together he calls him 'Starlight' and it flusters the everliving hell out of him.

What are their speech patterns like? more formal or informal?

He says 'uhm' and mumbles a lot. He also has cognitive deficit so he'll lose control of his sentences and descend into gibberish and then has to correct himself or start over completely.

He's not very formal but he is somewhat eloquent when he wants to be. He tries his best to sound polite.

If they were not an adventurer, what would they be doing?

Probably owning a curiosities shop and doing tarot readings.

[mirror-alchemist]

So I was able to finish my NG+ run of ShB because I can finally run Amaurot in a Trust and not get dunked on so badly. So here’s some screens. I took a lot of screens ya’ll that I have to do another post later.

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

Puzzle

In the not so distant future, Estinien attempts a difficult task while Agnes watches and laughs. Agnes/Estinien.

Estinien was frustrated.

He’d fought many dragons. He’d fought a version of an Ultima weapon. He’d listened to several Master Urianger’s lectures without falling asleep or choking him.

But this…this…he struggled with this.

“Infernal thing!” Estinien growled, staring at the directions in his hands. “None of this makes any sense!”

“Love, maybe I should have a look-“

“No, no, no, it’ll be fine. I just don’t know why it has to be so complicated! It’s just a crib for Fury’s sake!”

Agnes stifled a laugh while sitting in her rocking chair. “’Stinien, I did say that Master Beatin was more than happy to make us a crib and have it delivered here. He can-“

He shook his head. “Nay, I will sort this out. Our babe will sleep in a crib that I put together, not some half-baked Gridanian carpenter.” He sighed and looked thoughtfully at the pieces of the crib on the floor. “Now, I believe this piece goes here…”

“I will have you know that Master Beatin is not some ‘half-baked Gridanian carpenter.’ He made several of my staffs---a true master of all things wood.” Agnes said with pride, remembering the first time she commissioned the Carpenter’s Guild to make her conjury staffs. Maybe their child would study conjury with Brother E-Sumi as she had? Or perhaps taking after their father with becoming a dragoon? Or another road entirely? Agnes absentmindedly rubbed her growing belly. I can’t wait to see who you will become, little one.

She was taken out of her happy thoughts by yet another grunt and several swears.

“Fury’s fucking frozen tits! Why is this not coming together?!” He threw the piece he had in his hand onto the floor. “And these directions are of no help!” His hands were balled into fists, and if Agnes didn’t know any better, he appeared ready to blow at any moment.

Carefully, Agnes got up from the rocking chair, walked to Estinien, and put a hand on his arm. “This is quite literally the worst puzzle I’ve ever seen…and one that we don’t have to solve, love.”

As soon as he felt Agnes’ hand on him, all his anger and frustration began to evaporate. “Aye, I’m aware. I just wanted to do something in the nursery that wasn’t only painting or placing things where you tell me to.” He smiled and brushed his lips lightly against hers. “Forgive me, I’m a stubborn man.”

“A good, handsome, stubborn man whom I’m proud to call husband,” Agnes said, taking his other hand and placing it on her belly. “and father.”

What a wonderful moment! We’re both so happy and OUCH!

“Oooof, baby just kicked my ribs again.”

Estinien laughed. “Now, now little one stop doing that to your mother! Doesn’t deserve to be kicked. No, she deserves much more.” He reached for her ass and gave it a pinch.

Agnes giggled, swatting away his hand. “You are incorrigible, love! If you want ‘much more’ you’ll have to agree to my terms.”

“My lady, pray tell what terms?” Estinien raised an eyebrow.

“I’ll send a missive to Master Beatin, calling in my favors to the Carpenter’s Guild for a crib, changing table, and dresser. You are not doing any more assembly.” This nonsense has got to stop.

“Hmph. Any other terms?”

Agnes wrinkled her nose. “None for now.”

Estinien walked towards Agnes prowling like a lion after its prey. “For now, my pretty wife?”

“I may have more terms later---terms that involve you procuring some ice cream.” Agnes said as Estinien wrapped his arms around her, which, she noticed, was becoming more difficult by the day. “But now, I think, we should head to the bedroom.”

He kissed her hungrily once more. “By my leave, my lady.” He let Agnes go and followed her to their bedroom.

If this is what I had to do to get him to stop with the damn crib, then so be it! And at least I’m getting ice cream out of it too.

[elfyourmother]

regarding the Soft askmeme, 🍁, 🌾 , 🌸 ,🌼 ? Whichever of these you'd like to answer!

🌼 Who are this characters friends and found family? How did they meet, how long have they been friends for, could they ever be something more than just friends? What do they look for in a friend or a romantic partner?

The Scions were first and foremost, until she met House Fortemps. They are still her closest friends though, and the closest thing to family she has besides the Fortemps (though she is also romantically entangled with many of them).

Gisele just never had a conventional family, is the thing. She was taken from her single mother by the templars at age 8, never knew her father, and grew up in the Circle where nobody was allowed contact with their family outside the tower, or to even have a family inside of it with any kids they might have getting taken away. So found family in a sense really is all she’s had for most of her life, it’s the most normal thing in the world to her.

Cutting cause this got really really long.

Thancred was the first Scion she met, and he recruited her to the order. Aside from Nanamo, he is literally Gisele’s oldest friend in Eorzea, the person who in a sense was her guide to this whole new world. It’s colored all of their interactions since then, especially with his Sorceress Knight complex. Her relationship with him is way too complicated to get into detail here, but they had smoldering UST from the beginning, and went from Friends to Friends With Benefits to Lovers in rapid order, developing into a deep emotional bond that was tested a lot by various things: his fear of being vulnerable, her amnesia and falling in love with Minfilia and having a relationship with her, the Lahabrea episode (which I hc happened while she was off on the Titan storyline, because I have to in order to keep my sanity. the canon timeline would mean some pretty horrific implications re: consent so. yeah.). Gisele and Thancred have always had a very strong friendship but romantically have seen ups and downs over the years, with them being estranged in the wake of the Bloody Banquet all the way up until Norvrandt. Not because of anything on her part at all, mind you, or because they weren’t still in love with each other (they very much were!), but entirely because of him and his insecurities and various complexes causing him to keep his emotional distance from her, “for her own good”. As far as Thancred was concerned, he’d failed her in Ul’dah, and she deserved a better man than him--and she found three in Ishgard. As of the end of 5.0 they have 100% reconciled (him nearly dying to Ran’jit was the major turning point) and are lovers again, for good. Haurchefant helped a lot.

Gisele loved talking shop with Papalymo, probably more than any of the Scions barring Y’shtola and Urianger he was one to always push her in her studies, and it was something she adored about him. She also loved his dry sense of humor, and got a lot of amusement watching him and Yda needle each other. And while Gisele didn’t know him for as long, his loss was something she felt very keenly, and still does, even though she doesn’t talk about it often, and people tend to assume it didn’t hit her as hard as losing Minfilia did because they weren’t dating. But Papalymo was like an older brother to Gisele, and it hurt.

Grieving him brought her and Lyse a lot closer together, and I think it was why Gisele was so quick to forgive her deception. She wasn’t an Archon to begin with, which helped. But as Gisele is quick to point out, she wasn’t who anyone thought she was either, and even after she knew the truth, she damn well lied to the outer circle (Arenvald and the like) to keep it secret, for the longest time. Besides that, Gisele was genuinely fond of Lyse, and unlike the others, she had no preconceived notions of how she “should” have been, which made Lyse feel a comfort and ease with Gisele that she didn’t with the others in the immediate aftermath of her coming clean. Their bond really deepened over Stormblood, when they became FWB--they love each other, but it’s not the sort of bodice ripping all consuming gothic romance stuff Gisele has going with Ysayle. More of a romantic friendship, I’d call it. But Lyse did remind Gisele an awful lot of Alistair, with the same kind of insecurities, the same hiding her feelings with jokes and self-deprecation, the sad clown stuff. So Gisele encouraged her as best she could, for the same reasons.

Alphinaud is...phew. She sees a great deal of her younger self in him, like A LOT--and Gisele is probably the one person besides his sister that Alphinaud feels can truly understand him, and the pressure he puts on himself to live up to these Teen Prodigy/Gifted Kid expectations. It’s why she didn’t bristle at his sometime arrogance, because she very much understood where it came from--it was like looking at a mirror through time, at herself, the genius apprentice whose mother made much of her storied lineage when her gift became known (her father’s line goes back to Arlathan and has always been very strong in magic), and was continuously praised by Irving in the Circle as being a generational talent. Plus, Gisele was only 19 when the Fifth Blight started, and died at age 20 ending it after having raised an army and outmaneuvering the entire Fereldan nobilty to put Alistair on the throne. (Posthumously named as the Warden-Commander of Ferelden during that Blight by Weisshaupt made her the youngest in the order’s entire history.) She has a lot more patience for Alphinaud in ARR than others, as a result.

Going through everything they did in Ishgard and Dravania was what really cemented their bond though. He’s her closest platonic friend in the order and out of all of them, the one she feels most overtly familial towards. (From a meta standpoint, Alphi is 100% spot what Gisele and Alistair’s eldest son was like in the old canon, too) But he is deeply infatuated with her, and so is Alisaie come Stormblood. And Gisele, who is normally very perceptive when it comes to these things, had no fucking idea until Haurchefant pointed it out, when they got back to Ishgard. The thing is, during the whole road trip when she was consumed by angst over falling in love with Ysayle and Estinien by turns, she was totally oblivious to the fact that Alphi was going through the same angst re: her and Estinien.

But even if Alphinaud were old enough to be under consideration (and he very much isn’t, FTR--this is very much a one-sided crush of the sort that teens frequently get on cool older people they know, and that the cool older people in question gently but firmly rebuff if they’re at all responsible ), I don’t think Gisele would ever stop viewing Alphi as anything but her younger brother. She feels a profound sense of responsibility toward both the twins, not that she’s the “mom friend” (heavens forbid), but more so that Gisele’s an only child, and he and Alisaie are the closest thing to siblings she’s ever had. The spiritual connection she feels to Louisoix cements that feeling also; he basically summoned her to Source, in a sense being a catalyst for her rebirth, and so she considers him a kind of spiritual father, especially after freeing him the way she did in Coils, and with his aether being with her in a sense as Phoenix. If Gisele didn’t basically get adopted by Edmont, Louisoix would have. He kinda did, anyway.

Same goes with Alisaie, for whom Gisele feels like even more of a cool big sis/mentor figure. Gisele essentially teaches Alisaie how to Red Mage, among other reasons, but the big sis/mentor thing extends to just life lessons--while Gisele isn’t as hothead as Alisaie, she is a very emotional person just like her, and feels a responsibility to help her not be so overwhelmed by them at times.

I’ve talked a lot about Y’shtola and Urianger wrt Gisele already so I won’t get too deep into it other than to say that Gisele felt a kinship with both of them very quickly, and both of them pined over Gisele for years until their respective friendships with her developed into romances on the First. Neither of them especially wanted to complicate things for Gisele but each had their own reasons for not crossing that line with her, no matter how badly they wanted to. For her part, Gisele very much reciprocated, but never said anything because they didn’t, and she felt the signals were clear.

Y’shtola especially had seen how difficult it was for her wrt Thancred for all that time, which was another reason why she was so hesitant to tell Gisele how she really felt about her. As well as irrational guilt that she had fallen for Ysayle while on the First and they’d become lovers in the 5 years they were there before Gisele arrived. It was the incident in Amaurot that changed everything though, when Y’shtola was abducted and Gisele saved her. They had a long, long talk after that.

For Urianger, it was his mainly grief for Moenbryda and the Warriors of Darkness saga. But then there was the episode with Gisele after Lakshmi tainted her aether and she needed healing, and he essentially performed sex magic on her to do so. He had been well aware of his romantic feelings for Gisele until then, but that night was when it became extremely real to him, and he understood just how deeply he loved her. It became a lot harder for him and he suffered in silence a lot. Later on, the Exarch’s plan greatly complicated things too. He carried her all the way down Mt. Gulg out of guilt and shame. But Gisele forgave him rather easily, all things considered. She loved him too much to do otherwise.

Krile is a close friend and confidante of Gisele, and while I don’t want to say she’s exactly replaced Minfilia, Krile kind of slips into that role of “someone who understands the specific burden of this power I have because she shares it”.  A not insignificant portion of Gisele’s guilt and inner turmoil over her weird attraction to Zenos is specifically because of what he did to Krile, though, and it’s caused Gisele to keep a certain distance with her that she otherwise wouldn’t. It’s not that she’s grown cold or entirely distant, but that it’s more of a cordial colleague type of relationship they have than the deeply emotional bonds she has with the others. I imagine that will change in time though.

Gisele values loyalty and honesty. As she says, the cornerstone of all her relationships is honesty, because she’s an ethical hedonist. She admires beauty, obviously, but more than that she also greatly admires fearlessness and authenticity. Oh, she loves her knights and her brooding types and whatnot, but ultimately Gisele looks at a person’s heart more than anything. Passion is something Gisele craves, and needs. Physical yes, but also a passionate spirit--what moves a person? What do they cherish with all their heart? What drives them? These are the things that matter to her, because she is a deeply passionate person and does nothing by halves herself.

[ladyvialana]

a few thoughts on FFXIV...

So, this game has basically taken over what spare time I have in my life and I have very few regrets (most of those regrets are early-game decisions that I can still work on, so in general no regrets). I was surprised to find myself enjoying the game as much as I did since I tend to prefer single player RPGs to MMORPGs, but it is Final Fantasy, so ...

Anyway, since this game has basically been living in my head for months now and I’m finally caught up to the main storyline (just waiting on the latest patch to download), I figured I would jot down a few fun thoughts and headcanons that I may or may not play with later in fic format.

General stuff:

- playing as a Xaela Au Ra is so much fun

- Dragoon kicks ass, as does Gunbreaker (my 2 mains)

- I am very much a melee/non-magical player but it has never been so evident as it has in this game and, as much as I want to try all of the roles, I fear I will suck so hard at Black Mage and any type of Healer (I will try them all, I’m just going to have to get used to positioning and spell speed restrictions)

- I really like the gathering and crafting side quests and jobs

- part of me still wants to get a house, but I already have an apartment and it’s fine? like I don’t think I need any more space, also it’s cheaper and much less hassle and I hardly spend any time there anyway, so whatever - unless houses allow you more inventory storage space, in which case I need a shitton more gil

- like all of the npcs are great? and there are some really fun character moments/storylines/developments with the scions that I really enjoy

- the way the lore/backstory with the ascians has unfolded is fantastic, they’re much more compelling as antagonists now than upon their initial introduction, like the stakes make sense as do their motives, and they’re sympathetic but you still can’t root for them even though you actually kind of agree with them, I genuinely did not expect to want to know more about them since they just seemed like such generic ‘dark/bad/destruction/chaos’ villains, but they’re great and I want to see how things turn out

Headcanons/NPC stuff:

- G’raha Tia is absolutely worth all the hype and I love him, why is there no romance option in this game???

- the older scions are such dorks and I love them so much (like, that scene where they get their new clothes and weapons back is amazing, they look like kids playing dress-up ... and when Urianger is trying to walk on water and Thancred has to jump in after him, more of those scenes please, I love them)

- the twins are babies and should always be protected (jk, they will totally kick your ass, but they’re still super precious and I would die for them) and I love how they tease each other but they’re super protective of each other, adorable

- Thancred/Urianger is absolutely a thing!!! mostly bc of shadowbringers banter, but it’s there and it’s fantastic and I was not expecting this ship to hit me like this

- Alphinaud gets crushes on nearly everyone he meets, like not super serious or anything, but he’ll just follow them around with heart-eyes and posturing like he’s trying to impress them and it’s absolutely darling and hilarious (he totally had crushes on Estinien and Ysale during Heavensward and kinda had one on WoL during ARR but that faded away into super friendship ... he’s absolutely still got a crush on Estinien though and everyone notices and teases him)

- Alisaie likes to pretend she’s above all of that sort of nonsense but she’s just way better at hiding it than her brother, and she probably is better at rationalising her crushes but she definitely has them (WoL and Lyse, especially) and maybe hers are a little more serious/she gets crushes on close friends that build up over time ... the last one was Tesleen though, so no one really teases her about that like they do Alphinaud and his crushes (also because she doesn’t act way over the top like he does when he’s trying to impress someone)

- I would not trust Y’shtola with small children, they need at least a basic ability to take care of themselves before she should be put in charge of them for any reason, like she shouldn’t even be left in charge of herself if there’s work to be done/mysteries to investigate (Runar was always feeding her for a reason, not just because his feelings for her were adorable)

- I absolutely would trust Urianger with small children, as would everyone else, I would also trust Thancred, though other people would be wary of his reputation (but they’re both such softies for children, total dads, I love them)

- Of the older scions, Thancred is the only one actually any good at cleaning regularly, mostly because he just doesn’t own any stuff and he gets super paranoid about germs and dust whenever Ryne so much as sneezes, so he goes on a cleaning binge (she’s fine, he’s just an overprotective dad), Urianger and Y’shtola get partway through then find a book they’ve been looking for and just stop in the middle of cleaning to read it (that’s if Y’shtola even does her own cleaning, she just enchants brooms to go her work but they’re just not detail-oriented enough to satisfy Thancred’s standards of cleanliness)

- (possibly controversial, I don’t know the fandom well enough) Ryne > Minfillia, also Ryne deserves the world and all of the friends ever and there needs to be a way that she can keep in regular contact with the scions (esp Thancred who cries the next time he sees her in person and doesn’t bother hiding it)

- Tataru Taru=secret ruler of the world??? (Maybe Lalafell just give off that vibe)

- I am still heartbroken about Hauchefaunt and likely forever will be

- The Xaela clans and the Steppe are the best, I will not be accepting any criticism of this opinion (aside from the fact that Au Ra women should have more bodily variety than ‘petite’ :/)

- I was not expecting Gauis to return and definitely not expecting him to return like that (or look like that, like damn, get it Estinien)

Stuff I may write fic about:

- than/uri fluff???

- scions just hanging out

- twins being adorable terrors and dragging poor naive g’raha along and long-suffering WoL having to bail them out

- these are basically (mostly) canon anyway? I just need more

TL:DR

FFXIV is fun and I like the story and the characters and even the villains (who are not as one-dimensional as they seem) and it’s basically like a single player RPG in MMO format. Also there is an option to play as a giant purple dragon-man riding a chocobo, so it is clearly one of the most superior games of recent times (that or I’m just a sucker for squeenix)

[darthsuki]

So, I managed to get my butt kicked off the servers just as I unlocked what I believe is the second-to-last duty of Shadowbringers. Now that I’m left to fervently deny the option of sleep, I instead shall take the time to ramble on about all of the characters (new and old) this new expansion has made me love, interested in, and/or just very deeply want to write about

and I’ll likely add to it as I finish sidequests...and when it isn’t almost 4 a.m.

As to be expected, this list is riddled with spoilers for the entirety of Shadowbringers, so read on at your own peril!

it’s also riddled with thirst because of course, this is me we’re talking about

Kee-Satt - A wholesome Miqo’te boy found in Amh Araeng who cares a damn lot about his community. You meet him in one of the Aethercurrent quests, but I was curious enough to keep going for a bit afterwards and I’m happy I did! He just wants to get the materials to make a really useful metal, but he’s dealing with some intense discrimination since he’s the only Miqo’te among Hrothgar in the town (the others left for Eulmore at some point). He apparently has the cold shoulder for literally everyone but the WoL/D and confides his hopes and dreams to make his town better and safer with this ore he’s trying to find and I just love him.

Kai-Shirr - You meet him early-on in the MSQ while in Eulmore and I just...he’s got a cute face, a cute voice, and damn if I almost fucking lost my shit when I thought he was going to die. He was so desperate to be with his friends and I am forever sad that he at some point had to accept the fact that those friends were dead and like, I worry for him. Does he have any family? Anyone?? Please Kai-Shirr for the love of god tell me you’re doing alright let me help you.

Moren - The historian? Librarian? of the Crystarium that you meet early in the MSQ. He is a total dork and I have a total softspot for cuties like him. 10/10 would protect at all times, 10/10 would have him recite all sorts of stories from the First just so I could hear his soft voice more. Perhaps hear his voice in more ways than one.

Quinfort / Valan - Two adorable dorks that are part of an Aethercurrent quest in the Rat’Tika Greatwoods, though there is certainly more content of them afterwards in the sidequest chain. Definitely seem like close friends, Valan is the pragmatic to Quinfort’s exuberance and tbh I’d date both of them.

Chai-Nuzz / Dulia-Chai - A married Miqo’te couple who you meet early on in the MSQ. For a while I thought I was going to loathe them since at first I thought they were going to be written super shallowly, as one might expect from how Eulmore residents were at first glance. They get a bit of growth during the MSQ and, honestly, I love them both--they have the most adorable relationship that’s pretty damn supportive of one another and!! Dulia-Chai is a fat female character that isn’t!! Played off!! Like a joke!! She’s sweet and funny and super encouraging to her husband Chai-Nuzz. 10/10 would date them and I’m not afraid to say it. Let me date these two Square Enix, I swear to god.

Lue-Reeq - He is one of the four or five role quest NPCs in Shadowbringers, specifically for ranged DPS characters. I really enjoyed learning about him, honestly--he’s the child of a rich couple of Eulmore and by god does it show. He’s a bit spoiled at the beginning of the quest and a fair bit naive, but he was never really rude--a young man who had some self-confidence issues that he hid by tossing money around to try and buy friendship from people. It certainly didn’t help that I was playing as Khalja at that point in the game (who is my only top OC to date) and I wanted so bad to just fuck this soft Miqo’te man right out in the middle of the fucking forest after I finished the last battle of the questline.

Ardbert - This man has been through so much shit. He deserves a hug and, if it were me, more than a hug, but spectral kinky times aside I adored that I got to see so much more of his history and connections with the people of the First. The friendship that he shares with the WoL/D by the end of the MSQ is super heartwarming. I honestly think I’d have his whole team on this list if I had the time to go through the multiple role questlines that give you more insight to each of them

Solus [Emet-Selch] - Hello yes I’m too busy crying in the corner for commentary. Jk, but for real the amount of lore we got for the Ascians and their world and the new perspective of all the game’s evens we gained from that was...humbling, to say the least. It’s like, I still gotta kick your ass, but I sympathize with the heavy weight of pain and loss that you’ve been carrying with you for literal eons. A good example of a sympathetic villain. 10/10 would entertain a whole AU where somehow Emet-Selch is convinced to not do the thing, and/or maybe even indulge in a lil cliche concept of him falling in love with someone in the Source, like, for realsies, and eventually coming to terms with the fact that he will never get back the world and people he’s lost so long ago--might as well protect the people in the here and now.

Crystal Exarch [G’raha Tia] - I contemplated just putting a string of ‘aaa’ in here, but I figured it wouldn’t exactly communicate the sweet vindication I felt when I saw that hood get blown off to reveal his face in that absolutely beautiful cutscene. It was fucking cinematic, I fucking almost bawled. There is so much depth and literal years of stuff to wade through because, well, G’raha Tia is fucking alive and he’s over 100 years old and he’s been waiting all of those years for you. I watched those cutscenes, I read that dialogue, he’s so fucking in love with you and holy fuck do I absolutely reciprocate those feelings. 

Innocence - I want you to take everything you know and trust about the universe and just toss it straight out of the window, because that’s what happened exactly at the second phase of the Crown of the Immaculate trial. My love for this character, whom I am considering as entirely separate from Vauthry for the sake of my own sanity, is largely based on aesthetics because....he is.....Big Sexy..... Look, I’m content with having an AU to have my attraction and writing make sense with him.

Thancred - More like Dadcred amiright? But for real, no, Thancred had a lot of emotional healing and growing through this expansion and I fucking loved it. His acceptance of Minfilia’s passing in the end, his naming of Ryne, how the two of them bonded as parent and child...it just brings a tear to my eyes. Also he is fucking hot as a gunbreaker.

Urianger - I’m not sure if it’s because Urianger really had an opportunity to shine with the Pixie quests/Il Mheg area, or if it’s because he totally rocks his new astrologian class, but he is just 10/10 in this expansion. Maybe it’s because he stopped wearing the goddamn eAR COZIES

Zenos - He has become Ultimate Yandere(tm) now. And, gods above, if that’s not one of my most guilty-pleasure Things(tm) to work with in fiction. He was in the game for maybe 10 on-screen minutes at MOST and yet he spawned so many damned ideas I can use.

[0bsidian5ire]

The One Who Commands the Gods: Chapter 1

Summary: Out of all the things you've done as a Summoner, fighting with a Garlean Legatus over what type of control one can have over eikons is certainly one of the weirder ones. Fortunately, the Allagans (and therefore you) have far more experience with eikons then he does. And then there's the fact that Bahamut and the rest of the eikons you know would really like Shinryu to stop copying them and do something original for once...

Originally posted here.

Chapter 1: To Kill an Eikon

There are times being a summoner is annoying. Over time, you've learned to not have the egis of well-known eikons summoned in major cities (The Warring Triad, nobody has a problem with). Ever since you preformed the austerities, you've heard the eikons in your head, and they often make more sense to you then normal people do (you're all beholden to other people's wishes, if simply because no one else could ever hope to do something). You'll never tell the Scions what you're actually doing when you enter the Dreadwrym Trance (except Urianger; he understands unsafe magics, and Ascians and using one against the other). And well... the less said about the first time you cast Teraflare in full view of everyone, the better (Alphinaud and Alisaie didn't speak to you for a week afterwards). So yes, being a summoner often lands you in awkward situations.

Standing in the Royal Menagerie before Zenos and the Omega-bound Shinryu is definitely one of those times. Bahamut roars within you and you know what it is to be curled up in that cage. Wings pressed tight against tail which curls around horns which scrape against claws which can't claw out! The Warring Triad rouse in response and for a moment you know what it is to be caged earth-wind-thunder-fire-ice. Stop it! you roar back, before Ifrit, Titian and Garuda can bring up the memory of Ultima Weapon. We'll get him out. You'll also send him on to the Lifestream and gain his aether, but by this time the eikons know not to argue with you. The fact that you have a tendency to address the very issues that caused them to be summoned in the first place helps immensely.

The only thing standing in your way is Zenos yae Galvus and you know he is weak. Or rather, Ifrit knows. Zenos may be an inferno, one that surprised you in its ferocity, but he's never been though a true inferno himself. It's obvious from the way he began melting into dross when your own tempered power (no, not that kind of Tempered) was finally a match for his. Now all that remains is to let that dross burn away.

You take your attention off of Shinryu to focus on Zenos. He's monologuing again, and obviously thinks he knows what you were doing. "...you are the true architect of our design. You who fought the very soul of vengeance to the edge and watched him fall; you who let slip the Allagan hound to drive this eikon into my arms!"

You nearly laugh. Between Bahamut, Sephirot, Sophia and Zurven you knew exactly what monster Nero was releasing. It wasn't like you could tell anyone what it was without some very long and damning explanations. That and there was no way to get into Shinryu's core like with Bahamut. You do hope Nero appreciates that the only thing you did to him afterwards was make off with his Red Baron; Bahamut really wanted (still wants) you to let him know what the full might of your Dreadwrym Trance feels like.

"...Forgive me, this... sensation is wholly unfamiliar to me." Zenos continues. "A question, then--and I should like very much for you to speak from the heart. If I were to stand aside, what would you do to this eikon?"

Now you really do laugh. "Kill it. Obviously." How else are you supposed to let its aether wash over you?

Zenos looks almost disappointed. "And here I thought you were different. Come now. You obviously have some power over the eikons; you wield their powers nearly as easily as you do your own." He eyes the Titian-Egi that looks like Sephirot-Egi hovering at your side. "How could you hope to bind them to you if they have been slain?"

"Oh please," you scoff. "Since when did killing an eikon and binding it to yourself have to be mutually exclusive?" For that matter, what surer way to gain an eikon's power then to pattern your own aether so closely after an eikon's aether that there is barely any difference between the two?

Zenos raises an eyebrow. "Then I suppose your never did master your abilities?"

You raise an eyebrow back. "What?" You're pretty sure that at this point you are inventing as many new techniques as you are learning them.

The look of disappointment is back. "I speak of the Echo, of course." Zenos looks you in the eye. "Does it merely render you immune to eikonic influence? or is it rather that your influence is far greater then theirs?"

Your jaw almost drops and you find you can't look away from him. All the eikons' presence in the Lifestream is riveted on you (not that it usually isn't anyway) and your internal response. You've never even thought of trying something like that. Why go though all that trouble of wrestling with the Echo when the Allagan summoning arts are so much more reliable and allow you to have plenty of influence as it is? Even if you did know how to have that much influence, you wouldn't use it in that way. You have too many nightmares of looking out of nurolinks, internment hulks and the Ultima Weapon to want that for someone else, even an eikon.

Zenos plows on. "When I read van Baelsar's reports, I immediately saw the boundless potential of the Echo. I saw how it could be instrumental in binding an eikon to one's will. Hence my research and the Resonant--and oh so much more!" You don't let on how much what he could be researching scares you. The eikons know though; they've seen you pour over Allagan research and know you don't see a difference between what Allag did and what you found in Castrum Abania. On and on Zenos goes. Apparently someone in Garlemald knows the danger the eikons really bring. From your experience, most don't.

Garuda's cackles bring you out of your musings. Madness! she shrieks. He calls for the reckoning! Will we indulge him!?

Yes! Ravana answers back. He claims he knows the glory to be found in combat! Let us test him! The rest of the eikons you defeated join in his sentiment in the back of your mind.

It warms your heart to know that they are including you with them. What they really mean is that they'd rather you send them on to the Lifestream when you find them then face imprisonment again. And Zenos has only ever imprisoned people in his own perception of them.

Which is what he's doing to you right now. "...you understand this. You and I are one and the same. Together, we could while away the quiet hours, as a friend and confidant... if you will accept me."

You refuse him easily. "No, I've never understood where you're coming from." Violence has only ever been the means to an end for you. Whether that be freeing people (Eorzean, beastman, eikon, it doesn't matter) or winning the respect of your faithful egis.

Zenos laughs. "... and yet, in doing so, you prove me right. We are warriors. 'Twas plain from the first how it would end." He's right of course, but not for the reasons he thinks. "You live for these moments--when all hangs in the balance... when the difference between life and death is but a single stroke." He reminds you of Garuda before the Ultima Weapon caught her; so drunk on his own power that he can't see another outcome then the one he knows will happen. "I live for them too! This is who we are, my friend! This is all we are! Ala Mhigo and Doma and Garlemald be damned!" He lifts Ame-no-Habakiri up and slices though one of the vertices of the Omega-prison.

It splits in two and Shinryu uncoils himself from the confines. Aether streams from his jaws in an effort to temper you and Zenos, to no avail. "We tower above the gods!" Zenos shouts at you through the aether. "You by your gift, I by my might! And before the resonant the gods shall be made to kneel!" Red-black aether rolls off of Zenos and onto Shinryu. It curls around the eikon and burrows into him before rushing out in a huge shockwave that nearly knocks you over. When you look again, Zenos is nowhere to be seen and Shinryu has a huge crystal growth on his chest with Zenos inside of it. "An ending to mark a new beginning!" the eikon roars in Zenos' voice. Instead of the golden red it used to be, Shinryu's aether is a sickly green. It's one of the worst things you've seen happen to an eikon since you saw Ultima Weapon devour Ifrit, Titian and Garuda.

It's also one of the stupidest things Zenos could have done. I knew he was deserving of judgment before this, Rahmu thunders, but this is nothing but foolishness on his part. You have to agree. Zenos could have bested you before as a man and there are men, Garleans even, you have refused to kill before. But as an eikion? There is nothing you are better at fighting, no eikon you have not sent on to the Lifestream, no eikon who's power you have not earned the right to wield. If there was any doubt you would triumph in this last fight, it is gone now.

You run away from the palace, looking for some place that is large enough to bear the force of a eikon. The entire time you're talking to the eikons in your head and trying to remember what Shinryu's aether felt like when he tried to temper you. It's a weird aether, and you don't know what elements it is. The fact that Nidhogg's aether is mixed in with it is not helping. Louisoix interrupts, which is rare for him; he's never approved of what you did with the Dreadwrym Trance, much less that you have no qualms about summoning Demi-Bahamut. I take it none of us want to deal with Zenos on a permanent basis? Dealing with the Heavensward is taxing enough.

There's an instinctive recoil from everyone, even the Heavensward. The Heavensward are the ekions which still hate you the most.

Nay, we do not. Ysayle pauses in thought. Zenos is only in control of Shinryu. He is not bound to him as you, I and the Heavensward were were bound to our primals before they were sent on to the Lifestream. So long as Shinryu is sent on first, that should not change.

So avoid damaging that crystal growth then? you ask.

Yes, Louisoix says. I believe the reason why Shinryu's aether is so hard to pin down is because it is comprised of more aspects of aether then you are used to sensing in a primal. With that, the regenerating fire of the Phoenix burns down to mere coals.

Shinryu's tail crashes down on the walkway behind you, reminding you of what you need to finish. You turn to look if you can go back, only to find you are stranded on top of a pillar of marble far from the palace. Beside you is Sephirot-Egi. In front of you is Shinryu, wings unfurled, teeth bared and tail swishing behind him like a coeurl. It's good enough. Everyone ready? you ask as you pull out Lemegeton, the most complete collection of Allagan summoning rituals you have found.

Thou sayest Shinryu is modeled in our image! Bahamut roars. Only I am the true judge of that! We shalt test him! And you do.

It immediately becomes apparent that while Ilberd did know how to make an eikon, he had very little knowledge of magical theory. No sooner do you cast Tri-Disaster at Shinryu does Leviathan call out, Tidal Wave! You look behind you and run into the wall of water that sprang into existence. It pushes you toward Shinryu, and you finally get a feel for his aether.

He didn't, Zurven crackles.

He did, you shout back as you dodge around a puddle of water left on the floor. Ilberd really did make Shinryu aspected to all the major magical elements. At least it majorly simplifies things.

At first glance, having an eikon aspected to all the the major elements seems like a good idea. Theoretically, it can attack with all the elements and can absorb them all as well. Practically, it leaves a lot to be desired. Shinryu may be able to attack with all six elements, but each element has only one or two attacks each. It ends up making him much more predictable then he otherwise would be. The eikons with the most complete knowledge of their element are the ones with only one elemental aspect. There are still few things you remember being more terrifying then realizing the first six elemental eikons you fought did things with their elements you didn't think possible. The ones with two elemental aspects often blended them together in new ways, but when they used their elelments singularly, they didn't have that level of mastery. For better or worse, Shinryu has only been able to use one element at a time. He also only seems to use abilities the other eikons have used and only when his aether becomes dangerously over-aspected.

Or it might be Zenos' influence. Whatever the Resonance is, you highly doubt advanced magical theory is something it provides; the Echo doesn't after all.

Well, whoever is in control could certainly be more creative, you grumble at Bahamut. You're half-joking. The most terrifying use of elemental aether you've ever seen was at Bahamut's hand. Or rather, the most terrifying use of aether, period. Tiamat was no fool when she created an eikon in Bahamut's image and gave him only one elemental aspect, that of fire. Only instead of Ifrit's meager Forging Fire or Louisoix's regenerating Fire of Rebirth, Bahamut's fire is the Stellar Fire that fuels the sun. And Tiamat gave him the strength and creativity to take full advantage of it. That's when Shinryu takes a page out of Bahamut's book and combines the elements to cast a black Ahk Morn on you.

Thou art correct! Bahamut roars. Thou shalt show him what a true circle of death looks like!

With that, your aether fully attunes to his and for a few precious seconds, the biggest difference between your aether and the Dreadwrym's is the amount of it that can be used at once. Your power is greater, your spells more efficient, the efficiency of the geometries you can calculate infinitely amplified. You pour the strength of your trance into one of your favorite geometries, (x-π)2+(y-Φ)2=02, better known as Deathflare, and release it. Pure aether shoots up through Shinryu and briefly reduces all the aether in its path to nothing. He roars in true pain before flying away.

Globs of aether rain down in Shinryu's wake and crack open to reveal dragons as misshapen and warped as he is. There are many, too many for you to take care of on your own. "Sephirot, cast Ein Sof Ohr!" you make out. The egi does and wind and earth aether grow into a field of life energy. Energy that heals you and strangles the non-life out of the dragons. Again the globs of aether come down and again dragons come out of them. There's only one thing you know of that can take them all out now: Teraflare.

Sephirot-Egi places a shield of rock and wind around you and you dig down into that reservoir of aether most mages know better then to touch. It's the last limit you have, the difference between being being merely tired and aether starvation, but Teraflare costs more aether then you can cast all at once and you need it now. You take all that aether and bring it into the trance with you. Your aether explodes into the form of the Dreadwrym and if anyone was to see your aether now, you're sure they'd think you'd done the same thing with Bahamut as Ysayle did with Shiva.

For Teraflare is like Deathflare. It can only be cast when your aether is a perfect match for Bahamut's. Unlike Deathflare, it is no simple circle of death. Instead, Teraflare is you diffracting your aether a trillion times larger as if though a giant lens. The amount of the energy you end up producing is monstrous.

For mere moments, it is as if a monster does live within your skin. You are at Carteanaeu again, but you are flying up above it, your wings free for the first time in millennia. You take the store of aether you have and refract it through the geometry of (-(1012)-1) * (-1/Φ-1/π)=1012. Teraflare screams down around you and everything it hits is punctured though with a trillion laser-fast lines of aether. The dragons don't die so much as they disintegrate.

When you come back to yourself, the platform is clear of enemies and Shinryu is before you again. Aether streams from him and begins to coalesce into a star. Sephirot-Egi barely shields you in time before the sickly green aether of the Resonance coils around and fits itself against your aether's vibrations, locking you in place.

Fury fills you. You have seen what it is to be trapped though the eikon's memories, but not like this. Not in nothing but a twist of someone's aether. It's not even like what tempering is; that at least robs its victims of the knowledge they should want something else. Zenos wants you to know he's trapped you. You can feel his delight in the aether surrounding you. Instinctively, you take your fury and shove it against the aether surrounding you. You are not going to let him win here. Not with power not his own anyway. The aether of the Resonance vibrates out of phase with yours and you push again. The two different types of aether grind against each other and you bring all the aetherial force you can muster down onto the Resonance. It shears apart and leaves you gasping on the floor. But Shinryu is gone.

Where is he? you shout, hoping someone saw.

Bismark is the first to find him. In the clouds below you. He's coming up fast.

There's just enough time to get your bearings before Shinryu rams up through the walkway you're standing on. You manage to hold on to one of his scales as he flies up toward the mass of aether-clouds that now surround the star he created.

So that is the Resonance. Bahamut's fury stokes your own. Where Allag usest metal and lightning, he usest aether. I knowest how this ends, Channeler. Summon me! It will not come to pass, not again.

Before you can answer, Shinryu corkscrews over a platform in the aether-clouds. You lose your grip and fall to the platform and barely manage to dodge Shinryu's dive-bomb. Alright, let's see how he likes fighting against you. You've accumulated enough Dreadwrym aether now anyway; it would be waste not to use it. And you love using Dreadwyrm aether.

In theory, summoning Bahamut goes against everything the Scions stand for. There simply isn't any getting around the fact that you are calling on a power higher then yourself to strike down your enemies. Only instead of calling Bahamut out of the Lifestream, you call him out of your own aether and power him with the Dreadwyrm aether produced in the Trance and the aether of your egi. In practice (and the Allagans were all about practice), it's no different then any other magic that makes use of your own aether. The result is a short-lived version of the eikon you base your Trance on that can't consume aether. Instead of merely being the essence of Bahamut given form, it is Bahamut, if one with partial skills. There's a reason you call him Demi-Bahamut and not Bahamut-Egi after all.

Demi-Bahamut coalesces out of your aether and blasts Shinyu with Ahk Morn on your command. Enslaver! Defiler! Wyrmwave after Wyrmwave follows in time with your own attacks. Your memory willt fade into the aether beyond recall!

Fighting with Demi-Bahamut is nothing like fighting with an egi. There is too much personality and no fine-tuned control. Like all the eikons, Demi-Bahamut does what he wants even when it is filtered though the desires of the person who summoned him. Fortunately, the only thing you have ever wanted him for is the extra firepower and Bahamut never has a problem with providing that. He's got a lot of (justified) wrath to get out and being summoned for few moments each fight to rage against something is better then never being summoned at all.

It takes one more Ahk Morn for the aether that makes up Demi-Bahamut to be spent. The demi-eikon collapses back into Sephirot-Egi and Bahamut is back where he belongs. By this time, your aether has attuned to his again and the cycle of trancing into summoning starts all over again.

As the fight drags on, something becomes apparent. Shinryu is modeled after the strength Bahamut displayed when he broke out of Dalamud. You might have grown far stronger then you were when you faced down Bahamut, but you never actually faced him the way you're facing Shinryu now. Instead you faced Bahamut in the eikon's literal heart, his corona. This feels about the same. Shinryu is far weaker then Bahamut was and you've got a feeling you know why. You didn't happen to be about this strong when you first manifested, were you? you ask Bahamut.

Perhaps that is the case. I gorge on the sun's aether for eras! He does not have that chance.

It's as good a confirmation as you will get. Whatever the case, Shinryu is incorporating more of his body into the fight then he used to. You dodge around his claws several times and he even tries to flatten you with his tail. It turns out he really doesn't like getting hit there, especially when it's Demi-Bahamut that's doing the hitting. He also starts bringing out other attacks, but all of them are ones the eikons within you have used before and the eikons he's copying enjoy letting you know what attacks he's using.

Finally, aether starts leaking out of Shinryu. Cracks start appearing and you finally get the opportunity to aim Deathflare at the corona buried deep in the eikon's chest. The aether making up Shinryu shudders before all of it, including the crystal Zenos is in, explodes outward. You eagerly reach out and absorb all the aether you can for later before looking for Zenos. He is falling out of Shinryu's cloud. You decided to take the saner route back and form a Warring Laner construct out of Sephirot's aether. It has no combat capabilities, but it is capable of carrying you back down to the Royal Menagerie.

I was honestly expecting more, you tell the rest of the ekions on your flight down.

Our forms depend on the beings calling on us. Many of us are based on beings that actually existed and are expected to have the same capacities they did. Ilberd hadst no such being in mind and only wanted power in abundance. Bahamut laughs. He wouldst do better to create an eikon in thy image!

Yeah, Bahamut. You'd know all about that, wouldn't you? You shudder at the thought and hope nobody ever tries that. Given the types of people most of the eikons are based on though, it is very likely that someone will eventually make the attempt.

Zenos plows into the ground right as you land. Before you can finish it, Lyse and Alphinaud arrive on the scene. "Are you all right!?" Lyse asks you. "We all saw Teraflare and..."

You nod. "I'm fine. Tired, but fine. It's nothing a little sleep won't take care of." You hope so anyway. Aether exhaustion will drive you to sleep like nothing else will, but the nightmares often mean it isn't as long as it should be. Hopefully the memory of being chained in the Resonance won't be among them.

Alphinaud gives you that searching look he always gives you whenever anything to do with Bahamut comes up. Lyse's attention is already elsewhere. "Zenos!" she shouts, fists clenched and teeth bared.

Zenos struggles to his feet and laughs in her face. "The hunter has indeed become the hunted. And yet... there is only joy. Transcendent joy that I have never known. How invigorating, how... pure, this feeling."

Lyse looks at him in a mix of horror and disgust. "Is that what this was all about? All the meaningless death and destruction? So you could feel something?" It's obvious that she does not, can not, understand.

You can't understand either. The very reason why you take action is because you feel (and hear and think). The eikons are no different for all that their feelings originally came from someone else. It's one of the main reasons you can even begin to understand them.

Naturally, Zenos mistakes what Lyse is outraged about. "Meaningless? Men die that others may live. Those who survive are stronger for it." It's the only thing you might agree with him on. "Not that you could ever understand. To have stood upon this great stage of fools... to have played my part to perfection..." He is holding Ame-no-Habakiri now. "Oh, this... this moment... let it be enshrined in eternity." Zenos places the edge of the katana on his neck. "My heart... beating out of time... So clear, so vivid, so real... So real." He slices.

"Coward!" Alphinaud cries out.

Lyse rushes forward. "Stop!"

Mid-slice, so fast that only the Echo can see it, Zenos catches your eye. "Farewell, my first friend. My enemy." Blood pours from his neck and Zenos crumples. This time, for good.

Balance has been restored! Sophia pronounces and you feel the rest of the eikons sigh in relief as the world tilts at the death of one who seeks to control them by force.

You sigh in relief as well, even though you feel uncomfortable when faced with Zenos' last words. You know what it is to make friends, or at least allies, out of your enemies. At its heart, that is what Summoning is.

It it different, Titan rumbles over you, his protective inclinations coming to the forefront. He did not wish to know thy own interests. Not only do thy desire to know ours, but thee hast done something about them when it is profitable for the both of us. Titan's words are a bulwark against your nagging doubts the way a cave is against wind and rain.

It looks like Raubahn and Hein have done the same for Lyse. "...You're right. Thank you." She turns to all of you. She's smiling now. "Without you... Well...you know." You all snicker. The after-battle relief is starting to hit. "So let's do it together. For Ala Mhigo!" She leads you all over to the balcony to proclaim victory.

Behind Lyse, you lean against Sephirot-Egi and take a deep breath. Zenos won't be threatening you again and you've got another eikon's power to experiment with. It's been a good day.

Author's Notes: This entire thing was inspired when Zenos gives the WoL a choice about a primal and I looked at my Job and the choices presented and wondered why I couldn't pick both as the two choices aren't always mutually exclusive for Summoners. Somehow it ballooned into a lot of headcanon and theorycraft on Summoner... go figure, I'm a total nerd...

I couldn't find any lore behind Demi-Bahamut anywhere so I made something up. The idea behind a "demi-eikon" came from wondering if there was anything that would piss the Ascians off more then a summoning method that didn't put strain on Hydalen. Going by the lore book, one of the reasons the Allagans turned on the Summoners was that they thought the Summoners were being influenced by what they were summoning. I just took the idea and ran with it.

Yes, I really did come up with some math for Deathflare and Teraflare. π is the symbol for Pi, which is the key raito for calculating the circumference of a circle. Φ is the symbol for the Golden Ratio which has a lot of fun geometry applications. I figured both would be pretty important for a magic system that is based on math and geometry. The math for Deathflare is the normal circle formula, but it is a "dead" circle whose radius is zero. Teraflare's math is based on the Thin Lens formula.

Ch 2: To Bind an Eikon →