#SAFe 6.0

[passionfruitmango]

They have ARRIVED!!! My first long furby, made by WickytackCreations on Etsy, currently semi unnamed but I'll update when I settle on a good long name for this long bab 🥰🥰🥰

[4th photo is from their original listing!!! 🤩]

HEHEH UPD8, I HAVE SETTLED ON A NAME!!! Please meet:

GTA [Green Tea Arizona] Nike Mogan 6.0 Vaporwave 🩷💚

[ashleybenlove]

Congrats to Viggo who managed to capture Astrid and is also on Stormfly.

Viggo gets to embrace his inner mustache twirling tying a woman to a railroad track villain.

And Viggo is like, BYE ASTRID when Hiccup tosses the darn thing.

[meowww-ffxiv]

There's always a part of Thancred that never forgot that when he was possessed by Lahabrea, Mr. Meowdred Surana bona fide wanted to kill him 4 real before everyone politely outvoted him about it.

And they'd gotten to know each other a lot better since then, and Thancred was at least 60% sure that Meowdred actually liked him even under all that gruffness and general I-find-you-annoying aura, but he couldn't stop that thought from Bothering him as he and Urianger sallied forth to Tural.

Urianger could offer no comfort, as he had been on Meowdred's unbearable Cold Shoulder list -- worse than his shit list, because Meowdred would at least acknowledge that he existed outside of group context if that was the case -- since lying to him about the Crystal Exarch on the First. And the other time(s) that he told lies.

So sometimes they just thought about the cat back home and went 😐😐

It felt preposterous to fear Meowdred. No matter what, they were basically old D&D group mates and still ride-or-die. But they kind of did, for some reasons.

Thancred jokingly said at least Meowdred wasn't tall enough to reach Urianger's neck. Urianger said prithee refrain from jest... he dost command the remnants of a great wyrm and the primal persona of our late Louisoux...

[andromedasummer]

hey if u live in christchurch or ashburton or rolleston or geraldine or anywhere in the area i love u okay take a breath

[reonerra]

endwalker 6.0 spoilers

thought i was safe from the hot villain cliche, but then final fantasy xiv came for my throat 🫣

[nights-at-crystarium]

(OK to post, this is what i was gonna comment on the latest chapter but just didn't know if saying major shb spoilers in the replies was ok and thought i'd play it safe)

i don't know anything about your Azem, but this whole argument feels almost like Emet is trying to goad something out of Vivi. like either the way Vivi is behaving reminds him of Azem and he wants more of it, or there's something "missing" about how Vivi is behaving and Emet is trying to provoke a more Azem behavior out of Vivi and failing, because Vivi isn't Azem. OR BOTH I GUESS. Like in provoking Vivi, he's looking for something that isn't there yet reveling in the fragment/echo of it that he CAN still see. AGH

also ugh Emet's expression when vivi says "what's wrong with my eyes" the punch to my heart

god the dialogue is so entertaining but i am so sad (the Fragments mood)

Woah thank you for the thoughtful comment!! And yes feel free to talk about any 5.0-6.0 spoilers under my posts, just one look at my blog telegraphs that it's all spoiler territory.

In this episode Emet displays the standard canon behavior of hinting at something that HE knows and the wol doesn't. Fishing for memories, recognition. And of course he's disappointed that wol can't remember.

We know that the ancients had beautiful eyes full of color. What was the exact deal with Vivi's Azem's eyes is a question for later, and what kinda answer Emet hopes for is also unclear. But there's a reaction as Vivi explodes at him. Maybe Emet struck a nerve somewhere *whispers* maybe it's his hidden insecurity struck with surgical precision that only Emet's capable of :3c

And it's totally okay not to know anything about my Azem, I incorporate his lore/story into the comic, and tend to keep pretty quiet about him outside the comic. We'll be learning about him mostly from Vivi and Emet's pov.

[raelly-writing]

Safe and Solid (Wolcred, 6.0 MSQ)

In from the Cold follow up fic. :') It's haunted my WIP folder for over a year and I'd really like to call it done so I don't have to deal with this headspace anymore.

----

“Are you quite certain you are feeling alright?”

The question was expected - even when her visitor was just about to leave her room.

Before Viana even had a chance to think of it, the well-worn excuse slipped off her tongue. “Of course, Y’shtola,” she replied with what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “I’m just a little tired after the journey from Garlemald. Airships don’t exactly make for comfortable sleeping arrangements after all.”

Something jagged, cold and ugly stirred in her chest. The urge to scratch at the itch crawling over her skin was maddening, but she fought it down by crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe.

A week had passed, dammit.

Y’shtola’s pale eyes narrowed, as though by peering into her aether, the lie would be laid as bare as the ground after spring’s thaw. The sudden pang of guilt was sharp. It wasn’t a lie. Not really. Her unease wasn’t related to the events at the moon, anyhow.

She’d explained what happened. She’d talked about it. Told them.

She should be fine. Needed to be fine. There was no time for-

Clearing her throat, Viana ignored the rolling nausea in her stomach. “And if I were to feel anything that could be ill effects from being soaked in Zodiark’s aether,” she continued, “you are my first stop.”

A tension filled moment of silence followed as Y’shtola regarded her thoughtfully. “Fine,” she finally responded, but the unhappy way she pressed her lips together made it obvious she wasn’t convinced. “I’ll have no more foolish heroics on my watch.”

Despite the rancid taste at the back of her throat, Viana huffed out a short laugh. “Only if you promise not to do something that requires tossing yourself into the Lifestream again.”

“Hah!” Y’shtola tossed her head back, a small smirk playing on her lips. “Cheeky as always. Perhaps I have naught to worry about after all.”

Inclining her head, Viana offered her a smile that wasn’t entirely forced. “Thank you for checking on me Y’shtola, but I think I just need to sleep in a proper bed for once.”

Y’shtola hummed and put her hands on her hips. “Alright then. I’ll leave you to get your rest.”

The unspoken command was all too clear.

With a low chuckle, Viana nodded obediently. “Good night, Y’shtola.”

For a moment, she watched Y’shtola walk towards her own room, before she let the door close with a soft thud of finality.

Exhaling wearily, Viana turned around and leaned back against the sturdy wood as she regarded the room. In the wake of Y’shtola’s departure, the stillness settled over the space like a suffocating blanket that pressed down on her from every angle. A jittery energy prickled at her fingers, the churning sensation in her chest too strong to ignore.

It wasn’t the first time she found herself missing Ardbert’s ghostly presence.

Some things he’d just understood without her needing to explain.

Suddenly a shiver crawled over her skin and Viana’s eyes shot to the large window and the night beyond. Was that snowflakes that fluttered in the red gloom of the dying day? The sudden lump in her throat stole her breath away, and before she knew it, she’d crossed the room and yanked the curtains into place. The phantom ghost of winter nipped at her bare arms, prompting her to rub her hands over them.

Hells, when did her fingers get so cold?

The thought, as fleeting and innocent as it’d been, summoned uninvited memories from the corner of her mind that she’d done her best to shove them into for the past several days. Staring at her hands, she flexed them.

They were hers, weren’t they?

‘Borrowed flesh’.

Blinking, she struggled to draw breath.

Borrowed.

Polished black steel covered the arms before her. Pain stabbed at the side of her chest - sharp and piercing.

Burning ceruleum fumes stung in her nose, and the thick, iron taste of congealed blood in her mouth made her choke and tear up.

Borrowed.

But when she blinked again, the black steel was gone and no fatal gunshot was staining her white shirt with red.

Viana stared, doubt nagging at her mind as she traced the familiar latticework of pale scars covering the knuckles and fingers with her eyes.

Borrowed.

Fandaniel’s voice was like ice cold claws digging into the very fabric of her soul, poison bile eating away at her mind.

Borrowed.

Drawing a shuddering breath, Viana shut her eyes and tried to focus on the sensation of her hands on her own skin, the scratch of her blunt nails digging into her flesh. It was fine. Borrowed. She was herself. She had stopped him. Borrowed. She was in Sharlayan. In her room. Borrowed. Not struggling through the snow, stumbling over frozen stiff bodies amidst smoldering wreckages and crumbling ruins.

Borrowed. Borrowed.

She. Was. Fine.

Borrowed.

“Viana?”

Snapping ramrod straight, she whipped around, every muscle in her body coiled tight and heart racing from a surge of adrenaline. “Seven Hells Thancred!”

“You didn’t hear me the first two times.” Without taking his eyes off her, Thancred took off his dark overcoat, having evidently stood there halfway through the action, while trying to get her attention. She hadn’t even heard him entering in the first place. “Are you feeling ill?”

Despite his casual tone and relaxed body language, she could detect the undercurrent of concern in his voice. Even more so, the careful way he kept his attention on her, as though she was a particularly flighty animal. Hells, she certainly felt like one.

No answer came to her, not even the one she’d repeated so often. “I…” Viana shifted her weight onto her foot, her searching eyes falling on the empty tea cups left on the table. Turning away from him and his damned perceptive gaze, she walked over to collect them. “Sorry, I was deep in thought,” she responded firmly while walking over to the sink.

“Anything particular?”

Snorting, she flipped on the water with a little more force than was perhaps necessary and began to rinse out the cups. The heat of the water brought some warmth back to her numb fingers, and with it the world back a little more into focus, allowing her to gather a few scattered threads of her thoughts. “Oh you know, the end of the world as we know it.”

“Viana…”

Tension settled into her shoulders at the low, concerned rumble of his voice. A few quiet steps was all she heard before she felt the careful press of his fingertips against her lower back.

Inhaling sharply, she froze beneath his touch.

“Forgive me, I didn’t mean to unease you.”

Her skin burned where he’d touched her, but the moment he withdrew his hand she felt herself tremble like she was seconds from crumbling entirely. Was he leaving? Her whirlwind of thoughts and feelings refused to assemble into a coherent explanation, her plea for him to not leave getting caught and tangled in her throat.

The sharp clatter of porcelain against stone jerked her attention back to what she was doing.

“Shit,” she hissed and quickly picked up the cup and snapped off ear. Did she have any adhesive around?

“Viana…”

“I need to fix this,” she muttered. It was a clean break. The market should have something strong enough for it to hold. Was less she could do about the chipped edge but…

“Viana, stop.” A hand on her arm kept her from walking away from the sink. Immediately, she tensed up, breath caught in her throat and shoulders stiff, but Thancred didn’t jerk his hand back as before.

“I'm sorry,” he continued, “but you're obviously not alright.”

Clenching her jaw, Viana stared down unseeing at the pieces in her hands as she struggled to find the well-worn excuse. ‘I’m fine.’

She was.

She had to be. Too much was going on. But it felt like the words had turned to stone and settled in her chest, the weight of them making it hard to draw breath.

Dimly, she was aware of Thancred moving into her field of vision. His touch was a light whisper down along her arm, until he cradled her hands in his.

“Remember what we agreed on?” He spoke with a firm but gentle tone as he took the mug pieces from her trembling fingers and carefully set them down on the counter. “Don’t hide.”

His hands were warm against hers, steady and reassuring. She could sense him searching for her eyes, but she couldn’t make herself meet his gaze. Guilt tugged at her at the reminder of their hushed argument and subsequent promise in those final days they’d spent on the First. Hells, she’d been none too happy about him hiding the condition of his soul back then, and here she was doing the same thing.

It’d been so easy to avoid his concerned looks while they’d been traveling back from Garlemald - to just keep moving out of pure momentum and not let him, or any of them, catch her. Always keep busy with something, anything, to be the unbreakable figure the Alliance soldiers expected her to be.

“I’m sorry Thancred, I…“ She wet her lips as she clenched her hands, searching for the dull pain of her nails against her palms to jolt her back to reality. “I don’t know what to say.”

The quiet whisper felt like an admission of defeat. Drawing a shuddering breath, her shoulders slumped. She hadn’t felt this helpless since their desperate venture down beneath the sea to save the Exarch and face Emet-Selch. That time there’d been a goal, something to push towards even when she had felt her own body betray her more and more with every step.

Now… Now there was no such thing. Just an oppressive yet infuriatingly intangible threat of doom looming on the horizon.

A tremble shook her. Nevermind the sensation that she was losing the grip on what was real or not. The feeling of hot tears burning in her eyes was unfamiliar and all the more frustrating for it, driving her to turn her head away from Thancred.

But calloused fingers brushing against her jaw stopped her. “It's alright,” Thancred murmured as he rested his forehead against hers. “I’ve got you.”

Viana swallowed around the lump in her throat and reached out to grasp at his shirt. Borrowed. Why did she suddenly feel like a child afraid of being left alone in the dark? Without thinking, she tilted her head and pressed her lips to his.

Thancred’s surprised huff was muffled, but he swiftly recovered with practiced ease. The comforting weight of his arm settled around her waist, pulling her closer into the warmth of his embrace. The familiarity of it, of his fingertips skimming up her neck, the tickle of his hair against her cheekbones, the way his thumb rubbed small circles into her back, it all made her chest feel just a little bit lighter.

Peace. Safety. Trust.

Urged on by a sudden jolt of desperation for more she deepened the kiss, nipping at his bottom lip in a hollow display of playfulness while letting her fingers trace the edge of his choker. The low groan it earned her was immediately lost in the space between them as he rose to her goading and chased after her lips. She knew him, just as he knew her. The way his hands grasped at her hips betrayed his own need for contact, urging her to curve herself against his hard frame as she buried her fingers in his soft hair. Perhaps it was the time they’d spent in military encampments where privacy was as rare to come by as natural ice in the middle of a desert that led Thancred to so readily indulge her despite their tense conversation. She was barely aware of the press of the kitchen bench against her back when they stumbled against it, her thoughts too muddled and scattered.

“Viana…” With the rough utterance of her name, Thancred froze but didn’t pull away. His body radiated restrained energy even as his fingers flexed into the soft flesh of her thighs, his breath a warm tickle against her lips.

Like glass shattering under water pressure, Viana felt reality slam back into her as she gulped down a lungful of air. “I’m sorry. I just…” Borrowed. A cold sneer plastered onto a dead man’s stolen face flickered in her memory. Pressing her forehead against Thancred’s, she cupped his face as she tried to find the right words. “I’m not injured, love,” she finally choked out, trying to not think of the memory of congealed blood in her mouth. “But I don’t… it’s… I don’t want to think right now. I just want to…”

Feel.

Thancred pulled back enough to meet her gaze, the concern all too evident in his hazel eyes. Concern and something… else. Guilt churned in her stomach, but before she could say anything, his eyes softened with understanding and a lopsided smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“It’s alright my dear,” he spoke softly. “I’m more than familiar with that desire.” Despite his reassuring rumble, there was an undercurrent of something rueful and bitter in his voice that made her heart ache with memories of long past horrors.

“Thancred…-”, Viana began to respond, instinctively wishing to soothe those scars he carried, but without warning he hoisted her up. Gripping at his shoulders for balance, her legs settled around his waist out of reflex.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured once more and brushed a kiss to her jaw, before giving her pulse a teasing nip with his teeth. “Always do.”

Even as a pleasant shiver raced down her spine, a little bit of the turmoil raging in her head settled then, anchored by his earnest words, and she managed a small, crooked smile. “I know you do,” she breathed.

Thancred looked up at her, his expression soft and loving. “Tell me to stop if you want me to.”

Hells, how she loved him. Viana caressed his cheek and gave a small nod. “Of course, love.”

They met in a slow brush of lips, something tender and reaffirming, but in the short distance to the bed the kiss had grown hungry and desperate, with no room to spare for their usual quips and teasing remarks as they tugged at each other’s clothes.

Not that Thancred remained quiet for long once his hands were free to sweep over her bare skin, his touch firm and grounding as he pressed his fingers into every dip and curve like he was remapping her body in his mind. He stole the dark thoughts from her head with clever touches and heated whispers, and in return branded her body with marks of his love that’d remain in the morning, emblazing her skin with his words of endearments as though they were part of a prayer.

She’d always found it easy to lose herself in him, but Twelve, it felt like he was a wildfire - fierce and scorching, determined to seep into every fiber of her being and set her aflame in turn and give the shadows that had taken root in her heart nowhere to hide.

The haze of pleasure was welcome - to only be aware of him and his touches, too far gone to do anything else but surrender to instinct and tug and pull him to wherever she wanted - needed - him. And gods, he went willingly to wherever she bid, eager to be rewarded for his efforts by her voice breaking upon the syllables of his name over and over again.

She was adrift, lost to the concerns and worries of the world.

It was a fog that lingered even once he eased her down from the high with soft touches and quiet words that she struggled to really register the meaning of. But it was his voice, and she felt safe and looked after, even as the exhaustion started to creep into its place.

—

Viana woke with a sharp inhale, her entire body tensing in preparation for a phantom danger. Immediately, a warm hand stilled on her back.

“Didn’t wake you, did I?”

Thancred’s soft voice made her look up, only to have to blink against the low light of the bedside lamp. “No,” she exhaled as she relaxed and let her head slump back against his chest. Despite the restless end to her sleep, the sweet aches that lingered in her limbs coupled with the familiar warmth of his body against hers swiftly lulled her back to a drowsy state. “Merely a bad dream.”

There was a slight rustle as Thancred put down the book he’d been reading and his hand brushed through her hair and down her back. Sensing the question before he could utter it, she tilted her head enough to press a kiss to his skin. “Don’t worry, it wasn’t too bad.”

“‘I’ve had worse’, is it?”

The ever so disarming teaseful lilt to his voice that concealed the concern in his words made her huff out a tired laugh at being called out on her half-truth. “I suppose it is.” His fingers caressed the back of her neck, coaxing a satisfied hum from her. “How long was I asleep?”

“An hour, give or take.”

“And you are awake because your book was too captivating to put down?”

Thancred was silent for a short moment, before sighing. “Wanted to make sure you slept,” he admitted.

Blinking her eyes open, Viana craned her neck to look up at him. “You lovable foolish man,” she mused fondly and reached up to caress his cheek. “You need your sleep as well.” Thancred smiled softly and tilted his head into the touch, before discarding his book onto the nightstand.

“Then consider me sufficiently guilted by your disapproving look, my dear,” he rumbled and turned down the light.

Viana smiled to herself while waiting for him to shuffle fully beneath the covers. “Quite gracious of you.”

“I have my moments.”

Laughing under her breath, she managed to press a kiss to his cheek in the gloom. “More than a few, love.” There was a comforting familiarity to the teasing exchange, his little huffed laugh warm and precious - like she’d managed to reclaim a fragile piece of normalcy.

It was a feeling she held onto as Thancred pulled her back into his safe and solid embrace. With the warmth of his arms around her, sleep weighed on her mind, but she pushed it away for just a little while longer. Her hand found his jaw in the gloom and he immediately stilled, waiting. With no light, she couldn’t make out much of his expression, but he tilted his head into her touch as she caressed his cheek with her thumb. “I’m sorry for not speaking to you before,” she said quietly.

Thancred didn’t respond immediately, but his fingers flexed against her waist. “I know I’m the last person in our merry little group who should chide anyone for that,” he replied. “But you should, to someone.”

“I know. I will.” Leaning over, she brushed her lips to his. “Tomorrow. I promise.”

She felt him relax as he exhaled. “... just your poor luck that it’s Estinien and I who have the closest experience.”

The jest was spoken softly as he bumped his forehead against hers, their noses colliding, and in the dark, she found herself laughing quietly, feeling warm and safe for the first time in weeks.

[firelightmuse]

WIP Wednesday

Saw @allycryz’s post and figured it was good idea to post my Yume/Zenos WIP! Oh and open tag for anyone that wants to post their WIP!! 💖

Excerpt from “Return to Me”

Yume x Zenos

Feat. Hali Aloke

Immediately following “Save Him” at the end of 6.0; Zenos awakens and is surprised to find himself alive and back on Etheirys, all thanks to the one person he considers a friend.

((Keep in mind that I only have dialogue written so far, so I’ll just indicate who is speaking, in script form. Apologies for not having proper full paragraphs yet!))

Zenos: “So, she yet lives.”

Hali: “Barely… Yume has been in a coma ever since the Ragnarok returned from Ultima Thule.”

Hali: “You see, when Yume had teleported back to the ship, with you in tow, she had only the strength to utter one request… to save you.”

Zenos: “I don’t understand. Why would she bother to save me when she was to commit her life force to her own recovery? It was her blinding, brilliant light that would live on, while my soul had been set aflame by hers, and my smoldering embers were destined to turn to ash at the edge of existence.”

Zenos: “Why am I alive while she lies upon the very precipice of life and death, threatening to fall at any moment?”

Hali: “I’m really sorry. I wish that I could do more, truly I do, but the rest of Yume’s recovery lies with her. If I may voice an observation that you may find helpful…”

Hali: “It seems that she cares for you, enough to defy fate once again, and see you safely back home to Etheirys.”

Zenos: “She cares… for me?”

Hali: “I know she does! To what extent, well, only Yume can answer that. She does tend to keep those kinds of feelings to herself. So if you want those answers, then I ask that you pray with all of your heart that she awakens and is able to recover. Then you can have the answers you seek.”

Full fic coming soon! Thank you for reading!!

[reassambled-dragoon]

FFXIVWrite 24 Masterpost

OKAY. YOU GUYS WIN. I'll add something resembling a header later...

As a heads-up, I'm not doing any kind of specific storyline. I'm letting the prompts speak to the 2x4 of Inspiration. If it concerns AU Storm, it will be tagged AU Storm/AU: on our fates alight. Otherwise, it's generally safe to assume this concerns mainline Warrior of Light.

Resident Blood Elf might make an appearance, if a prompt fits. Stasia Sunrunner is a sin'dorei now permanently living on Eitherys, so yes, she counts as a FF14 character.

The Cast (so far)

Day 1: Steer (Husband and wife alone-time! No, not THAT alone-time, come on)

Day 2: Horizon (A teenaged goldsmith apprentice makes a feathered friend)

Day 3: Tempest (FF16 AU hosted by @scrollsfromarebornrealm featuring a very, very pissed-off Dominant of Rhalgr)

Day 4: Reticent (Post-6.0 but no major spoilers. Lord Godbert noticed a colleague wasn't acting like herself, and decided to do something about it.)

Day 5: Stamp (Stasia Sunrunner, aka Resident Blood Elf, takes vicious delight in making a couple of Scions squirm.)

Day 6: Halcyon (Minor 6.0 spoiler mention. Storm revisits her childhood home, and is found by an old friend.)

Day 7: Morsel (Jorgan loves grooming time!)

Day 8 was a free day, so I took it off to rest.

Day 9: Lend an Ear (Storm's father receives an incredible nameday gift. Endwalker role quest spoiler.)

Day 10: Stable (Beginning of Dawntrail spoiler. Storm helps Wuk Lamat fight her seasickness.)

Day 11: Surrogate (Minor Endwalker spoilers. Storm and Ameliance have a heart to heart about their shared children.)

Day 12: Quarry (Resident Blood Elf plays Manhunt with Spyboy.)

Day 13: Butte (Dawntrail spoilers. Erenville, Stasia, and Storm are exploring the desert.)

Day 14: Telling (Endwalker spoilers. Those who Storm has loved and lost come to give her heart when she needs it most.)

Day 15: Free Day, choice: Family (Endwalker spoilers. A glimpse into the life of Storm's past self.)

Day 16: Third-rate (Bold Star sees their dingy, neglected flat and declares Challenge Accepted.)

Day 17: Sally (Dawntrail spoilers, but location is unspecified. Everyone draws Storm into a linguistics debate, and she ends up having fun.)

Day 18: Hackneyed (FF16 AU hosted by @scrollsfromarebornrealm. There is only so much false sympathy Storm can handle before she lashes out.)

Day 19: Taken (Estinien and Stephanivien force Star into talking to them about how she 'fell asleep'. Much furious cursing ensues.)

Day 20: Duel (An old friend sure knows how to prick Storm's pride.)

Day 21: Shade (Sin'dorei and Hellsguard compare their homes and takes on addressing the departed.)

Day 22: Free, choice: Hope (Set during Heavensward. Bold Star is determined to bring hope to those who have none.)

Day 23: On Cloud Nine (Dawntrail location spoiler. A Dragoon enjoys some reckless freefall.)

Day 24: Bar (Storm helps her friends take care of boring work. Laughter makes it go quicker.)

Day 25: Perpetuity (Endwalker spoilers. Resident Blood Elf ponders the rise and fall of nations while scavenging in ruined buildings.)

Day 26: Zip (Minor Endwalker spoilers, nothing major. Well, Bold Star certainly has an emphatic way to shut down an argument.)

Day 27: Memory (Endwalker spoilers and the fallout of hellish trauma. Hekaarn is a good friend, he really is.)

Day 28: Deleterious (Resident Blood Elf would be giving Thancred greys if his hair wasn't white already.)

Day 29: Free day, choice: Legacy (Dawntrail spoilers, end of MSQ! Storm and Hekaarn ponder the ramifications of her inheritance.)

Day 30: Two Heads Are Better Than One (THE FINALE!!! Dawntrail spoilers and a sequel to 29. Cid is more than up to the challenge of helping his wife solve the puzzle that she brought home.)

[thatdruidgal]

Herb Gardening

What are the perfect herbs to grow for your witchy garden? Well, I’m glad you asked! Here is a list of great herbs to grow, what plants to put in your tea garden, and the three easiest herbs to grow yourself with detailed instruction!

Gardening

Red creeping thyme makes a perfect lawn. Grows three inches tall max, has a lemon scent, and repels mosquitos.

Rosemary, oregano, sage, thyme, basil, and mint can be grown year-round in just water.

[UPG] Mint is well-known to be an invasive species. Keep it in a safe container to prevent roots from spreading.

Tea Garden

Bergamot

Hibiscus

Lemon Verbena

Pineapple Sage

Lemon Balm

Chamomile

Grapefruit Mint

Calendula Marigold

Hyssop

Spanish Lavender

Jasmine

Rose

Rosemary

Plant rosemary in spring once all chances of frost have passed. This delightful herb is an all-star in the kitchen and is a great option for raised garden beds, containers, and in-ground gardens.

Space rosemary plants 2 to 3 feet apart in an area with abundant sunlight and rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Rosemary grows best in a sunny spot that has soil with sharp drainage.

Before planting, set your garden up for success by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter into your native soil.

It's important to water regularly but be sure to let the soil dry out between waterings. It’s better to underwater rather than overwater them. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings, and then water so that the soil is evenly moist but not soggy.

Avoid pruning more than one-third of the plant at a time.

Lavender

Plant lavender in spring, once all chances of frost have passed. This beautiful, fragrant herb is a great addition to raised beds, in-ground gardens, and growing in containers. Space lavender plants 12 to 18 inches apart in an area with plenty of sunlight and sandy, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.7 to 7.3.

Give young plants an excellent start to the growing season by mixing in several inches of compost or other rich organic matter into your native soil.

Lavender survives well in dry conditions, so you'll only have to water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.

Avoid harvesting more than one-third of the plant at a time.

Thyme

Plant thyme in spring once chances of frost have passed.

Space thyme plants 12 to 24 inches apart in a very sunny area with fertile, well-drained soil with a pH close to 7.0.

Before planting in-ground, improve your existing soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter.

Keep soil moist and water when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Avoid pruning more than one-third of the plant at a time.

How to Dry/Store

Hang upside-down for a few weeks, or bake on a pan covered with cheesecloth in the oven at the lowest setting for 30 minutes.

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[passionfruitmango]

First few days with Nike have been SO FUN, my world has been full of ear to ear smiles every time I look at them 🥰🥰

First picture is when my partner gave them a Goku inspired lil hair shape! I was so confused what he was up to until he turned Nike around 😂

Second is our beautiful long bab gazing upon their kingdom, the world is theirs after all 🩷💚

Third was during "vibe out in the car time" where Nike got to see their reflection for the first time [when will my reflection showwww]

And fourth and finally we have Nike's first car ride from this morning!! I brought them to work with me today, had a coworker who was EXCITED to see a long furb live in action!! I'll be posting a close up pic of their name necklaces (I love making kandi hehe) later, finished those up last night 🥰

[autumnslance]

FFXIV Write 2023 Day 8: Shed

(Endwalker 6.0 spoilers, uses dialogue from the quest.)

Aeryn watched Meteion fly, gleaming and hopeful once again, the pain of uncountable lifetimes fallen away like the gray feathers.

There was one last thing she had to do before she could rejoin her friends. He stepped up behind her. She took a deep breath and then turned as Zenos began to speak. 

“You mean to return. To the world where you are hailed as a hero. Hear me then. Not as a hero, but as simply...you.”

Straightforward as ever, he made clear his want for a fight, once again.

“If you wish to walk away, I will not stop you.” 

Only to come back again later, to hurt others in order to goad her…

“You value life. You do not burn yours save for reasons you deem worthy. Reasons such as those which brought you here. The salvation of a world and its people. The motives of a hero true.”

He sounded so dismissive, and she was too damn tired to argue with his nihilist views, after everything. With all fear of him gone, she had simply become weary of this repeated play.

“But there is more to you than that. You know this to be true.”

She frowned. What did he project upon her now?

“As surely as you know the thrill of pushing your body and soul to their limits. Of confronting ever-mightier foes, dancing ever closer to the precipice, wondering if this will be the one to finally, finally...fill the void. Such pleasures, you seek for their own sake, and no other reason. Is this not so…adventurer?”

She closed her eyes and thought of her answer. Alone at the edge of the universe, she sighed heavily, all preconceptions torn away. 

He wasn’t entirely wrong.

She did what she did to help and protect all she loved, yes—but also…

One didn’t become an adventurer to be safe. 

The thrill of discovery. Of escaping and facing dangers. Of testing oneself, finding the very limits of strength and endurance—and going beyond them, because you had to.

To help. To protect. To save. To survive.

She was a hero to many. A villain to some. But when stripped of all other reasons and needs, she was here at the end of all things firstly because she was an adventurer, seeking every boundary—in order to break past them.

And he saw her truly for who and what she was.

There was no one else here to hurt. Nothing else here to destroy. Just them, their weapons, and the thrill of a challenge needing to be faced and finished, finally.

She opened her eyes.

“That, I can’t deny. But I've had enough of you. It ends here.”

He laughed, delighted as he drew his magitek scythe. He was too wordy, compared to her silence as she drew her rapier and focus.

No rules. No civility. No concerns but the challenge. All else fell away, this place and moment their entire existence.

Voicing twin roars, they clashed.

[blindingspark]

Flowing

The Warrior of Light settles down for the evening, their mind ever turning from recent events, and finds an unexpected visitor in their wake. Rating: Mature-ish [Safe to assume anything w/ Zenos will warrant a mature rating even at the most mild] Pairing: Zenos/WoL Notes: A HUGE thank you to my friend Remi for his input and knowledge on tending wounds accurately! This doozy of a fic was originally meant to be posted w/ accompanying imagery but circumstances have resulted in that being postponed |D I'll update this as soon as they're completed! Contains spoilers from the end of 6.0 and 6.X patches!

There was a certain peace to be found in an evening rainstorm, the gentle pitter-patter of raindrops against window panes and echoing from the rooftops was enough to put the weary mage's mind at ease.

Their tail swayed idly as they stirred a bit of honey into their freshly made tea, the fruity scent wafting upwards and offering its comfort as their mind steadily turned; months had come and gone since facing the epitome of despair, putting an end to the Final Days once and for all only to find themselves swept up in another swarm and impending threat within the Void. It was safe to say the now-former Warrior of Light would only know true tranquility when they started going grey- a thought which made them chuckle to themselves bitterly.

Their thoughts continued their travels, thinking of their new companion… the connection she bore and the turmoil and guilt Auri felt swirling within their chest when they thought of their approach to her.

You will not be able to avoid her perpetually, they thought, You know full well she is not Zenos, and that it would be cruel to treat her as such despite your own connection.

The steady stirring motion stopped, with the au ra glowering at their teacups contents; try as they may otherwise, some stubborn piece of them clung to the past, a mocking reminder with each remembrance that they had failed again. Again.

A heavy sigh left them, stepping away from the counter in the small kitchen area and returning to their spot curled up upon the sofa, the crackling fire in the mantle warming the humble abode with ease. Their small paissa companion slept peacefully, nestled in a blanket opposite of where they sat and having far fewer woes than his owner�� Auri's bitter expression softened as they watched the little creature rest, reaching over to gently pet his tuft of longer fur atop his head-

A heavy sound beyond the door caused them to still, looking up and listening intently. Their mind shifting in its racing thoughts, perhaps another resident dropped something, if not fallen… 

The sudden banging upon the door that followed startled the paissa awake, the sound of his tiny claws scratching along the floor being heard as he darted to the safety of his tower and looked to his owner for protection; Auri stared wide at the door, setting their tea aside and grabbing their staff as they carefully stepped towards the entrance, their tail now flicking with nerves.

When a second knock did not come, the mage tentatively leaned in close, listening for any other sounds beyond their home… a faint creaking of floorboards, as well as the door- their brows knit together, was there someone leaning against it?

Auri scowled, checking the chain lock on the door before they grasped the handle, 

"Who is this?" They asked, loud enough for the mysterious visitor to hopefully hear.

A long moment of silence.

"Who-"

"A… friend." The newcomer replied, Auri's scowl deepening as the voice was almost… familiar.

Surely not… They thought, There's… there's no way…

"...Step away from the door." They ordered, earning a brief silence in reply followed by a muffled grunt as the door creaked once more, allowing them to open it slightly and peek out. 

A chill shot through their being as they looked upon the massive cloaked figure, a face just visible enough to discern, soaked as he seemed to be.

The newcomer glanced up, his steady gaze settling on the sliver of them he could see,

"How…?" Auri muttered, staring wide at him in return and seeing him wince, his voice faint,

"I… had nowhere else to go, but I shall explain. If you will allow me-"

The au ra hurriedly set aside their staff and unlocked the door, pulling it open and finding themselves catching the garlean as he staggered into their home, guiding him to the nearby sofa before just as swiftly closing and locking the door again.

They lingered by the doorway, looking over their shoulder as they watched him shiver, reaching up to push the dampened hood from over his head and confirming their suspicions as his attention remained on the fire.

With careful steps, the mage approached the man they had thought dead once more- having breathed his last at the edge of creation, and stilled as he looked to them, 

"I… forgive me my surprise in seeing you here, I had- I assumed you…-"

"Perished?" He finished, his voice hushed, "Aye, I was… I had, and yet…"

His attention drifted shifted back to the fire, his jaw set, "I was once again denied. The events after my return are… faint. Mere glimpses and recollections, all connected by a singular purpose."

The mage frowned, stepping closer and observing his garb, noting the torn state of his coat… and the way his left arm remained covered,

"Me." Auri replied softly, watching as his jaw clenched again, offering a faint nod to them in response.

"I wandered… back to this star, to find you. As I had done before, however-" he quieted with a growl, hunching slightly and shuddering, scarcely paying attention as Auri drew closer, placing a careful hand upon his back out of instinct, waiting until he eased before they spoke again,

"The fact you made it here is… remarkable," they said, their mouth pressing to a firm line as they studied the soaked cloak covering him, "... May I remove this? You will warm more easily without it."

He stilled, gaze remaining on the fire even as his expression softened a touch, shifting to push the cloak from his shoulders and allowing Auri to pull it away; they paused a moment as his current state was revealed to them, the most notable features being the somewhat healed slash across his chest from their duel and the transformed left arm which angrily pulsed with unbidden energies, his clawed fingers twitching before he balled his hand to a fist to nullify the sensation that seemed beyond even his level of tolerance. Auri uttered a small hum to themselves, dragging the cloak away to hang it and fetching a drink of water for the garlean on a whim, returning to his side and offering the glass to him.

A twinge of relief was felt as he took the glass, gulping down its contents like a man deprived and swallowing hard, his attention remaining on the fire until he spoke once more,

"Perhaps I am cursed to wander this star perpetually."

Their gaze fell to the floor, hands idly wringing and attempting to make sense of his circumstances with him, 

"Your… former avatar, she-" they chewed on their lip out of habit, pausing a moment and noticing the way his head turned faintly to them, "We encountered her upon our visit to the Thirteenth, returned her to her original state, and she… has joined us. The tales she has told from her pact with you is…"

"Ah. My death released her from the contract…" he replied, looking to his transformed arm and turning his hand to study it, speaking matter-of-factly, "I'm certain there are many souls who would speak ill of me, curse my very name; they would be right to do so."

The au ra frowned and nodded faintly, looking to his hand and stepping closer,

"I… I find it curious how your arm retained this form despite no longer possessing an avatar," they murmured, "And given how you react to it, I'm to assume it's not pleasant."

He remained silent, observing the limb until its glow brightened, a faint crackle of void energies sparking and curling around his forearm like licking flames as he clenched his hand into a fist once more,

" 'Tis naught the pain itself," he said quietly, "But the way it manifests, it sears beyond anything I have known. Even the power bestowed by Shinryu does not burn so…" 

By now the au ra had moved to sit upon the edge of the sofa, reaching to grasp his hand and carefully pulling it closer, sensing the way his attention settled on them as they traced the lines and fissures with their fingers,

"The contract formed between a reaper and voidsent is the primary method which allows them to manipulate the void energies itself. With your pact diminished it would have naturally dissipated, yet because you live again with no voidsent bound to you…" their lips pursed, brows knitting together as their fingers now brushed along his palm, "There is nowhere for this energy to go but outward- like a circle suddenly broken."

They noticed the subtle way his hand relaxed beneath their wandering fingers- partly relieved that physical touch did not further agitate the limb, though that would be set aside soon after as the mage pondered and eventually looked up to meet his gaze,

"Your fight against this power is only hurting you, it seems," Auri said, " 'tis hardly a power that can be controlled through force alone."

They placed their palm upon his wrist and turned to face him more fully, "Think of the voids power like... flowing water. If you stand in it, it moves around you and offers but a taste of its gift at a painful cost such as this, but…" they then traced their fingers upwards along his forearm, silently noting the way his breathing deepened in tandem, "If you allow it to flow with you like so, it will feel less unnatural. Allow yourself to sink into it but not so deeply you do not come up for air."

Auri looked up at him again with a faint yet warm smile, "It will feel as natural as your own strength with time."

Zenos remained steady on them as he listened, a faint acknowledging hum left him before closing his eyes and exhaling slowly, his hand relaxed as the angrily crackling energies slowly shifted to steadily flow along the length of his arm- the unnatural bite in the air that surrounded him easing through his efforts, "It is… warm. Potent all the same, and yet-"

His eyes opened as he looked to the au ra across from him, brows faintly knit together,

"...Why do you aid me so? To what end?"

They blinked owlishly at his sudden query and tilted their head, "Why…? I'm surprised you ask such a thing-" Auri paused, shutting their mouth and lips pressing to a firm line in deeper consideration, their gaze falling down to his hand which they continued to hold, 

"I… I do not wish to see those I care for in pain, not if I have the means to ease it. Too many already view my attempts and choice of companionship as weakness at best," their voice trailed off, looking to his hand and pulling it closer to hold it to their chest, "I simply…"

The feeling of his clawed hand grasping theirs drew the au ra's attention upwards again, their eyes meeting and finding his expression… difficult to discern, even at such close proximity. Their mouth opened to speak, then shut, the disbelief of him truly living once more lingered even as they held his hand within theirs- felt the warmth of vitality with his presence like the warmth of an emerging sun.

With a deep inhale they stood from their seat and tugged on his hand, watching as he complied and rose to his feet soon after, eyeing them with silent expectation,

"Your wounds…" Auri said at last, "If you will allow me, I would tend to them before we… we decide what to do going forward."

The steadfast and slight crinkle in his brow was his only answer as he was led away from the seating, the soft chirping from within the hiding spot of the small tower hardly drawing his attention beyond comment,

"I was not aware you had a companion."

"Hm?" They perked slightly, looking to the tower and finding themselves unable to hide a charmed smirk at their small observer, "Ah, aye, he's rather recent; he's too small to be capable of surviving in the wild, but has quite the personality once he warms up to others." 

The mage guided Zenos to their makeshift study, letting go of his hand to fetch their medical kit, "He arrived outside of my door one day worse for wear and in need of care-"

"It seems to be a recurring phenomena." He said flatly, giving Auri pause as they looked at him with widened eyes… a snicker leaving them soon after,

"Ah… that it does, given tonights events." They replied with a grin, returning with kit in hand along with extra supplies and setting it on the desk beside the garlean.

Auri sorted through the tools and solutions, ensuring they had enough of what they would need before turning to their visitor once more, eyeing his wardrobe and finding themselves fidgeting in hesitation,

"May I remove your coat? Or would you prefer to do so?"

A momentary silence floated between them, watching as he then reached up to begin the process of shedding the bulky garment- Auri's nose scrunched faintly as he slowly pulled away from the wound, wondering at the back of their mind how long he had wandered the star like this since his return. They held out their hands to receive it upon him shrugging the coat off the rest of the way, dragging it over to the seating across the room and draping it across the back before returning to his side, getting a better look at the laceration as he removed the undershirt he wore as well, setting it on the desk and looking to the au ra expectantly.

Their eyes traveled along his transformed arm, observing how it tapered and fused with his skin at the shoulder; gnarled tendrils of hardened flesh etched into his being and revealing that- if it were possible in the first place- healing and reversing such a change would take time.

The mage stepped closer to him, reaching to carefully examine the cut and hardly realizing the somber expression that had settled on their features,

"You seem distraught over your fine work, my friend." Zenos said, watching them wince at his word,

"It did not feel that way when it happened," they murmured, picking up a clean swab and dousing it with alcohol before setting to work on cleaning around the wound, taking care not to touch the broken skin itself, "As soon as I saw you collapse, my rage- my fear, disappeared and I felt only regret. I felt I had…" 

They sighed and shook their head, changing swabs as they spoke, "I felt I had failed you a second time. That despite how much I had tried to not repeat my failure in the gardens, it would be a fruitless pursuit; that I would lose you every time."

"Do your companions know?" He then inquired, giving the au ra pause as they changed supplies, his seated position allowing him to be eye level with the mage. Auri sighed, shaking their head again and preparing a saline solution,

"No, as far as they are aware I accepted your challenge for a duel and came back barely alive as the victor. None of the Scions know about those last few moments- and if your former avatar is aware she has not spoken of it." They replied, holding a clean rag under the laceration and beginning the steady process of flushing the wound, catching the excess and contaminated saline as they worked their way down,

"Given how long you wandered, I'm pleasantly surprised there are no signs of infection…" Auri noted quietly, "And it looks as though the wound was already beginning to close before you arrived, we'll simply help that process along."

Zenos remained silent, stilling himself as they finished irrigating the wound and moved on to the next process, his own mind turning as he stewed on their words, barely acknowledging the way the small paissa watching them from his tower had emerged and crept closer to investigate the two.

The small creature clambered up a small stack of books and sat on his haunches, wide eyes observing them as he uttered small chirps before the garleans gaze landing on him caused the creature to freeze,

"It's alright, Shallot, he won't hurt you," Auri snickered, this time moving on to grab the sutures from their kit and began stitching the laceration, "I'll have to pay a visit to the chirugeons in the morn, fetch some extra supplies and preventatives while this heals."

"I'll be fine once you have finished, there is no need for-" he paused as their gaze snapped to him with a look of near-angered disbelief, their expression softening apologetically soon after and returning to closing his wound,

"Please, Zenos," they muttered, "Let me do this much… allow me to do right by you while I have the means."

The garlean lingered on them, eventually letting out a slow breath and adjusting at their coaxing touch so they could continue their work, observing them as they readied a small drainage for his wound and moved on to dressings. He had endured his fair share of tendings for wounds too big to bandage on his own, observed as Imperial medics reset bone, removed limbs and damaged organs from soldiers and generals alike, yet such sights hardly held him in the way his companion tended to him; the reason giving him pause more than the process itself,

"Why?" He asked, watching as Auri paused once more, looking to him in the midst of unraveling fresh gauze, "You had defeated me at the edge of creation, having paved the way for the Final Days to begin when I regained my body. After doing all that I could to tear apart what you held dear- if only for a taste of your fury… you would still open your door to me and tend my wounds."

The au ra stared in return, eyes wide as the air filled with a tense silence and broken only when they returned to bandaging him, focusing on their task when they answered,

"Perhaps it is foolishness on my part; young naivety in the midst of hope, or simply stubbornness inherited from my mother," they paused with a smirk, turning as they maneuvered around him to continue their work, gathering the length of blonde in one hand to move it aside, "Or perhaps I cling to what I saw in the man that would perish by his own hand in the gardens of Ala Mhigo.” The garlean reached up to nudge their hand and take over holding his hair, freeing their hands to continue bandaging him- the slight turn of his head indicating that he listened still, waiting as they navigated their thoughts, “I have tried to rationalize it all, every cruel action and how you see the world around you- the contempt and bitterness towards a star where you're surrounded by what feels tedious and grey. But… I suppose in spite of all my reasoning and wondering, I think of what I have gained in knowing you as well; my truest strength in might and in self, in ways I might have never known had we not met," Auri trailed off, securing the dressings and letting out a sigh upon stepping in front of him again, looking up to meet his steady gaze,

"Perhaps it is also selfishness on my end, but I do not think myself capable of hating you- not in the way you had desired for so long… and I have tried." 

Habits of old emerged as they reached to rest their hand upon his cheek, their chest tightening as he studied them with a furrowed brow, slowly pulling their hand away in a rush of nerves only to feel him grasp their hand in return. His touch was tighter than anticipated, causing them to still with their breath held as they wondered what was going through his own mind- feeling his hold ease and pressing their hand to his cheek again, leaning into their touch and closing his eyes, “I have misjudged you, my friend," he muttered, his tone distant, “Sought in you a bloodlust that I would never again see firsthand.”

Such a revelation quieted the garlean for a long moment, sighing and scarce noticing how his companion mirrored the tilt of his head, studying his features at such close proximity before feeling their other hand reach to brush aside strands of blonde. His eyes opened to slits before looking to meet their gaze in full, 

"You vex me endlessly." He said at last, his words met with a chuckle and shrug of the shoulder from the au ra,

"As do you…" Auri smiled, though it faded as their thoughts traveled to the last time they held him like this; bathed in the vibrance of the dawning light and the encompassing, tranquil silence. 

They remembered little beyond the regret that washed over them after claiming victory, the way they clambered to his side to hold him close- their hands drenched in red and the aches wracking their body, and they remembered the way he looked upon them in his last moments, realization manifesting too late as the light faded from his eyes- the remnant flicker of his lifes flame extinguished once more…

A sigh slipped past Auri's lips, pulling their hands away with little protest from the garlean and began to pick through their first aid kit once more, "For the time, I think it more important that your attention remain on healing. There's likely to be questions and arrangements needed once word spreads about my… visitor."

"I find myself curious how willing your companions are to bend upon your request." he commented, watching them shrug with a faint bob of their head side to side in thought,

"Some would be open to… negotiate, and understand, others are likely to give a cold shoulder… I have already found myself losing allies and friends alike when questioned about knowing you." they replied, plucking the bottle of chosen medicine from the kit and pausing as the sounds of little claws and chirps drew their attention away from their task, greeted by the sight of the small paissa now at their feet gazing up at the two with orblike eyes; the mage snickered and reached to scoop him up, feeling his grasping hands cling to their shirt before he stared at their visitor, chirping softly while Auri gently brushed back the soft tufts upon his head, 

"Admittedly, having a new face around will only be strange for a little bit," they said, looking to Zenos once more, "You are not obligated to be his caretaker should you stay for the time, though he does seem rather interested in you all the same."

His attention flickered down to the small creature peering at him, his brows knitting together, "Animal husbandry is rather removed from my skillset." 

They carefully lowered Shallot to the floor to fetch a drink to aid him with taking the medicine, perking slightly as they heard the critter hop away instead of trailing behind them as he often did; the au ra paused after looking over their shoulder, watching as the little paissa approached the large blonde, silently staring up at the garlean with his twitching nose as his only movement. Their brow raised, slowly moving to refill a glass with water as they observed the interaction and ready to call upon their little creature to dismiss him if needed-

An initial, cautious touch to his boot with his small paw. The paissa stared up at him for a long moment still before placing his other paw upon his shoe, slowly working his way up to grasp for purchase and climb the garleans leg; Zenos's expression shifted to a faint, perplexed scowl while watching the critter, eventually- and rather slowly- reaching to scoop him up and onto his lap, a series of softened chirps escaped Shallot as he soon curled up and closed his eyes upon achieving his little victory with minimal fuss.

The garlean's expression remained, his attention shifting to the direction of Auri approaching once more, noting the look upon their face and receiving the offered drink,

"I can take him if you wish." They said, earning a small hum in reply before he focused on swallowing the medicine they offered,

"I take it he does not cling to others like this…?"

"Ah, no… not in the time I have had him. Though I seldom have company over beyond a caretaker when I'm called away." Auri then shrugged, taking the emptied glass and setting it beside the torn undershirt he had worn, lingering on the garment and picking it up to examine the damage,

"I will try to mend this as well, maybe fetch some more clothes while I'm resupplying in the morn. The tailors would most certainly have something for a man of your stature." 

They draped the shirt over their arm with their decision made, closing the medical kit and returning it to its usual spot before the quiet drew their attention back to their companion with a curious look; watching as he took in the towering shelves packed with leather-bound tomes and worn folktale collections, his perpetual stillness remaining as Auri set aside the garment to quietly move and settle at his side again with hands loosely clasped,

"My collection is certainly not as grand as what may have been in the palace, but you are welcome to them all the same…” they noted, the softened smile fading as they watched him; having seen the intricacies and subtleties of his wandering thoughts up close in the past, they reached to turn his head towards them upon seeing those very tells, brushing some of the blonde away from his face once again as they did so,

"Shall I be enlightened on what now swirls about in that head of yours?" They inquired, answered by a sigh and feeling his head instinctively press to their palm, 

"Naught that has not been answered already, 'tis simply the steps going forward that eludes me." 

"Ah," a faint nod, "There was no room nor reason to consider an existence after our rematch, was there? That there was no room for you…" Auri's voice quieted at such a notion, "These days the star has no purpose for myself, truthfully. By all accounts I have spent my usefulness in halting the Final Days, and yet I continue on; perhaps you can find a new purpose- a new life here," they paused, jaw clenching before they reached up with their remaining hand to gently cup his cheeks, "A new life with me."

The mage shifted closer, their hold tightening slightly as they then pressed their lips to his- a gesture so brief it could have slipped beneath the untrained eye, yet one that was reciprocated upon the feeling of a large, clawed hand pressing to their back and pulling their body flush to his for another. 

A tentative movement, unfamiliar but ever certain, mere moments felt like centuries when they pulled away a second time. The rising heat creeping upwards along their neck and to their cheeks as their mind swirled with a million thoughts; the relief of holding him in their arms once more, the winded explanations to their colleagues if- of when- they learned of his return, lingering fears of losing him again and again and again-

With a sigh their head tipped forward and pressed to his, feeling his grasp on the fabric of their clothes tighten,

"Stay… please," whispered Auri through a yearning hiss, "Do not make me lose you a third time."

"There is naught else here for me upon this star or any other beyond the soul standing before me." He replied, a sigh leaving him afterward, "If you would accept me once more…"

The mage smiled faintly in relief, resting their arms around his shoulders and carefully easing against him- a sudden disgruntled chirp capturing their attention as the small paissa had been disturbed from his slumber, hopping off the garleans lap and scurrying back to his tower before settling down once more. Auri let out a chuckle under their breath after, drawn back to their companion and resting their head against his,

"I will make a place for you here," they murmured, "A home… even if I must dirty my hands to do so."

[drkcatt]

10. how does your wol sleep? very light? very heavy? do they need a specific item to fall asleep? is it easy for them to fall asleep, or does it take them forever? where do they prefer sleeping? :3c

i'll answer for baya :D

Vaya's sleep is pretty average! she gets what she needs and hardly anything more. as of post 6.0, she wakes up in the early morning to start her day (# FARMGIRLSWAG) and shes never been one to struggle with sleeping in weird places, but she appreciates having a nice bed :) umm she often sleeps curled up, protecting her vitals. when she feels safe she can splay herself out but it doesnt really happen. she sleeps better when she has other people around :') and shes a cuddler. grabs at people in her sleep

[dreamergirlatpaddock]

FAVS 16 CHARLES LECLERC 6.0

Some of my favorite stories, writers you are amazing

𝐀 𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐜 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 pt 2 𝐏𝐭3 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 heart eyes in a different timezone written on the books 𝐄𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 safe with me 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬..𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭? 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐜 the ways in which Charles shows you he loves you this is me trying it's called love Charles Leclerc x horse rider reader Under the Influence 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐮) 𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐜 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐞 stuff it vogue Not His Type my girl can ride "new years eve with the boys" all’s well that ends well Christmas will really be Christmas new man piano prince Ocean eyes couple back home angel baby, devil child miss americana and the heartbreak prince ferrari boys not a secret Domestic Bliss cruel joke melodrama maybe she's just a fan PR manager SPARKS FLY pt2 pt3 pt4 All because I like a boy Call it what you want "He Can't Know" "He Does Know" in my lover era! (social media au) GRADUATION + HATE + LOVE Protective girl summer love not hiding happy ever after drama queen god is a woman no way screw soft launching best moments sunshine into you world tour ferrari true temptation it's time to go is it cool that i said all that?

[eemamminy-art]

👻💻 For the fanfic ask meme!

👻 What is one WIP you think you may never pick back up?

I had started what was intended to be the final piece to my daughters of ishgard f!estimeric oneshot series, which was going to be set post-HW after Estinien had left the way he normally does in canon. The idea was going to be that she came back to Ishgard surreptitiously in order to visit Aymeric, who is still waist-deep in trying to enact real and meaningful change in Ishgard. Estinien on the other hand, has opened her eyes to a whole new world outside the Holy See. While in Ishgard she might have forced herself into a binary male role in order to keep herself safe and express herself at all, in the outside world she discovers all sorts of ways to exist. When she comes back she's had top surgery, she's as masculine as ever, but in embracing those things as being okay and acceptable she's found the freedom to feel closer to her womanhood than she ever dreamed possible.

I wasn't really sure how to go about it, but that was the central theme anyway. As you know I have super mixed feelings on how the relationship in canon between Estinien and Aymeric went from 5.0 onward, so I was trying to find a good balance especially considering like, the entire rest of those fics are set pre-HW or during HW which is a completely different vibe. It also felt a little bleak that like, Estinien would come back with this profound new sense of self while Aymeric is still willfully keeping herself in chains in order to see a better Ishgard at the end of it. I didn't want it to be an unhappy ending, but in an already really bleak setting of this AU, maybe there was never any other ending possible.

So I let it sit a long while. At this point I've been made to feel so alienated and bad about the ship and the AU I don't really think I'll ever go back to it. I don't even feel like a maybe is fair to say. Never say never I suppose, but if I ever were to go back, I think it would be a long long time from now, if ever.

💻 Do you do research for your fics? What’s the deepest dive you’ve done?

I do! It's all fairly surface level for the most part, but I regularly look stuff up to make sure I'm being reasonable with what I'm writing. I look up quest dialog or replay quests in ffxiv pretty regularly when writing something relevant to it, and in my stardew valley fic I've looked up SO much stuff about homesteading, cooking, and sports lmao. I consider myself pretty well rounded in my interests and my dad was a country boy so I know a fair bit already about those topics but I've still double checked on a lot of stuff to make sure it was within the realm of possibility (allowing myself some wiggle room since the setting is technically not our own world so I can change things if it's more convenient). I've also been looking up character dialog a lot because I'm really worried I'm characterizing them all weirdly, like it's been genuinely a big concern of mine with this fic. Hopefully my concern will lead to me not writing them OOC, but I don't know! 😖

Probably the most in-depth research I ever did was taking notes through a replay of ARR with the intent to start writing Leigh's canon, since it's canon-adjacent and heavily focused on ARR and HW (ending at 3.4 before picking up again at 6.0). I ended up not writing that but I have a lot of notes saved of notable differences between the canon and how his story goes, if I ever do decide to do something with it.

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