#but i've been waffling on it

[paintedscales]

FFXIV Write 2023 :: Day 23

Prompt :: Suit Characters :: Nomin tal Kheeriin, Grathgar Senkasch Word Count :: 1,237

FFXIV Write 2023 Master List

The sands of Gangos were cool, thankfully, because the sun beat down otherwise on the cove where the Bozjans convened for war plans and debriefing. Though Nomin had come at the behest of Marsak when she had chanced to revisit Kugane once getting back from the First, she had distanced herself from the meetings. At least the ones that were more about upping morale, or providing words of inspiration. As it stood, Nomin felt as if she were not the greatest at either.

Instead, Nomin stood several fulms away from training dummies that the soldiers often used to keep their skills sharp. She held a gunblade in one hand, feeling its weight within her grasp. It had certainly been different from holding a spear, or using her bow. Hells, it had been weightier than the rapier and focus she had come to use to channel her aether to utilize red magic.

“Y’ain’t gonna get better at usin’ the thing the more ye stare at it, lass,” came a gruff voice.

Nomin looked behind her to the owner of the voice. There was a hrothgar standing there, his arms folded over his chest, and his expression not very discernable under his mane and scruff of white hair. A pair of goggles had been situated upon his head, crowning it.

The hrothgar’s name was Grathgar, and the one who had introduced to Nomin a gunblade of her own after she expressed mild interest in it. It was a training blade more than anything, with a failsafe so that the aether charges within had not produced as large a bang as the more combat-ready ones did. However, it was weighted to feel the same as holding the real thing.

“No need to remind me…” Nomin replied, partially frowning. She looked down at the blade and the cylinder that had clicked into place when she looked at how many charges it had. Flicking the cylinder and hearing it spin, Nomin walked over to Grathgar and huffed a quiet sigh.

“I hesitate to ask, mostly because the thought doesn’t really tickle my fancy…” Nomin started. “Though I don’t suppose there’s something that would fit me? A suit of armor so that I might get a feel for the weight and material while I train?”

Grathgar offered a soft chortle to the inquiry.

“Aye, that we do. We likely have somethin’ or other around here fer ye size…” Grathgar scratched his chin momentarily. Throwing a hand up, he then turned and led the way toward one of the supply tents. “Let’s see if we can get ye suited up, then.”

Glancing over his shoulder, Grathgar then asked, “ye ever wear somethin’ heavy an’ more suited fer protectin’ yer softer bits?”

“Nothing like plate or, uh, scale, if that’s what you’re asking,” Nomin admitted. She afforded the scales on the back of her hand a brief glance. “I’ve never really been one to stand on the front lines if I could help it. There are typically others more trained for it than I ever have been. The closest I’ve gotten is what I’ve worn for lance training in Eorzea -- but most of that has been leather and chain for protection.”

“Ah…then ye have quite an adjustment to make…” Grathgar responded. “We have armor that’s suited fer our practices, but it’s still gonna be heavier than what I imagine ye’ve been given afore.”

“Then it’s lucky I have this time to train and get some form of understanding of what I’ll be working with.” Nomin had fallen into step next to Grathgar, though had to skip forward every now and then just to keep up with his longer gait. “I don’t expect to use a gunblade immediately -- certainly not in the current short term. I’ll likely still be using a bow, or my red magic in order to aid and assist where I can. But at least having this training under my belt should I ever need to employ it in the future will be handy.”

The curl of a smirk grew on Grathgar’s lips as he and Nomin approached the supply tent. There were brief greetings made to those that were manning it, and Grathgar had explained briefly the situation as to their visit. The person that had been there nodded with some level of enthusiasm to getting to help with outfitting the Warrior of Light with something more than just light leathers and reinforced cloth.

With a little bit of aid into the armor and getting them secured, it took Nomin and the others a good chunk of a bell to ensure that each piece fit snugly and just right so that there were no mishaps due to misshapen pieces fit for a larger or smaller frame. Of course, it also turned out that Grathgar had not been exaggerating in the slightest when it came to the weight of the armor that now rested upon Nomin.

As it stood, the cloth had been reinforced underneath with chain, and the plating on her torso needed to be fitted with some padding underneath so as not to chafe. There were steel gauntlets underneath the sleeves of her coat, and steel pauldrons that sat upon her shoulders. Her neck had been covered up with tempered leather and thick steel to keep it protected. Perhaps the only truly obvious pieces of armor were the leather and steel boots that crawled all the way up to her thighs.

On the surface, the new suit that adorned Nomin had not looked too different from what she might have seen Thancred normally wear. He seemed to have no difficulty at all in wearing his coat and armor pieces along with fighting with whatever techniques he acquired from his own gunblade trainer. He had made it look all so easy…but then again, with how it seemed the First’s passage of time before Nomin had been pulled to it had gone…it was unsurprising that he had all that time to train and temper himself further.

“Aye, there ye go, lass… Lookin’ fit fer runnin’ on the front lines o’ Bozja, ye are…” Grathgar said, looking over Nomin and folding his arms back over his chest with a contented look on his face. “Now…we should go ahead an’ get ye trained up with that blade of yers. Jus’ be mindful of the aether charges within, an ye’ll be golden. Six total -- don’t forget.”

Nodding, Nomin took up the blade from where she had rested it. It was certainly a little more cumbersome with the added weight upon her person, though she walked back toward the training dummies with Grathgar close behind. Taking in a breath, Nomin thought of the different techniques that she had been shown.

Locking her attention upon the one striking dummy, Nomin braced herself before she charged forward and swung the blade. She pulled the trigger on the blade, only to have it glance off of the dummy’s surface with a pitiful ‘click’...and then a series of other, equally pitiful ‘click, click, clicks.’

“What the…” Nomin started, pulling the trigger again. Even if it was just a training blade, something should have happened.

“Ye did make sure to put some aether charges in there, aye?” Grathgar asked, amusement evident in his tone.

Nomin had felt that rising sense of embarrassment however, and she immediately went to check the six-round cylinder.

It had indeed been quite bereft of any rounds.

[coldturkeybabe]

when u do sketches of one character and ur two faves somehow invade the page

[lu-sn]

"I'm not eating."

[bonefall]

ougghhh everyone’s talking so fondly about lionpaw and his new friendships made by the ripwater event but all i can think about is his mention of ashfur’s comment. and how lion probably thinks it’s just a little joke but ash might actually mean it :(

There's this little pearl of a theme hidden in the Ripwater Episode, if you look carefully; abuse acts on people in insidious but subtle ways.

It's Mistystar who's defensive of asking for help or admitting a problem, thinking of what she did to Leopardstar and also repeating cultural sentiment that once victimized her herself.

It's Squirrelflight shouting at her daughter for acting like she used to, because she's spent some years being yelled at in a similar way

It's Hollypaw who isn't allowed to enjoy her achievement of saving Otterpaw's life or lean into how much she has in common with Lakepaw, because she's ashamed of how she did something "wrong" by snooping

And lastly, it's Lionpaw, who's starting to believe the vicious comments that Ashfur says about him. I referenced Willowpelt partially for the sweet little irony of him teaching her recipe to her unknown grandson, Ripplepaw, but ALSO because Ashfur is starting to isolate him.

Willowpelt is the Head of Hunting, currently, a position that Lionblaze is going to succeed her in. I don't think Ashfur is playing 4D chess quite yet, but there's a couple of little motivations knocking around in Ashfur's heart for why he's nasty whenever Lionpaw interacts with her;

Ashfur hates Willowpelt, because of the events from Ferncloud's Parting. He isn't aggressive to her directly, but he does spread rumors and slander whenever possible, happy to remind others of her exile.

Lionpaw getting close to Willowpelt will annoy him. Ashfur both hates and resents his apprentice, but also feels POSSESSIVE of him. He feels like Willowpelt will "steal" what's his.

A simple but hard truth; Ashfur wants Lionpaw to hurt. Maybe Ashfur sees it in his head like "telling the hard truth" or "toughening his apprentice up," but when he makes those malicious little comments, makes him recoil with hurt, it feels righteous.

Maybe in the next draft, it should actually be Ashfur, not Blackclaw, who comes to growl at Lionpaw for bonding with Lakepaw over the spears. Maybe have Willowpelt come in to show them how to properly use one and that's actually what set Ash off. Like he just used xenophobia because it was convenient in that moment.

[porcelana-r0ta]

Oh you're sad that your favorite character is dead???? Well none of my faves are dead bc I have been living in denial (reading fanfic) since 2011. Y'all stay safe tho

[fisheito]

i can't look at him i can't look at him i can't look at him i won't i can't im not allowed to why is he I CANNOT

[oatberrytea]

[starrysharks]

Just out of curiosity since its my special interest; what kind of fashion styles would you say you wear/would like to wear? smile

ooo i feel like it's a mix of multiple styles! my friends irl either say that i dress emo or y2k style (i wear a lot of skirts over jeans, fun hats, leg warmers, lots of accessories and stuff...) my main style inspirations are stuff from fruits mag and random outfit pics from pinterest - i buy a lot of my clothes from chinese indie brands like cfierce, eyeelike, and double punch if that gives a good idea!

in short - in warmer months, my style is more harajuku/y2k/etc inspired - colorful oversized shirts, lots of hairclips, keychains, and accessories, cargo pants and shorts, etc!

and in colder months, more emo (according to my friends - i personally don't consider myself emo)/mori kei/twee??? idrk - dark patterned cardigans and sweaters, layered leg warmers, scarfs, hats (like ushankas and baker caps etc)!

if i could dress any other way, i would dress every way. i love all alternative fashion styles so much!!! i've loved alt fashion since i was a wannabe fairy kei 8 year old haha

[benevolenterrancy]

Do any NieYao (or general 3zun) shippers follow me? I've been tossing around the idea of a nieyao fic but I'm getting tripped up by timeline shit because good lord JGY's life is a nightmare... is there anyone who wouldn't mind either:

a) chatting with me about timeline/canon stuff to help me get sorted

b) sending me recs of their favourite nieyao fics 👀 for, uh, strictly research related purposes for sure for sure

[halfdent]

them them them !

[cozylittleartblog]

"woah i can't believe you've read blue sky!"

hoho. my dear followers. i have done more than read it. do you have any idea what you are dealing with.

[tinglecannon]

FIRST TIME WRITING AGAIN THIS YEAR LET'S GO

[astralprisms]

*howling like a great wind through a canyon, it engulfs your mind, drowns your senses. Above the howl rises a screech, gleeful and maniacal. It is the way and the truth. Absolute.*

The Emperor: Leave - them - alone.

*the screech quiets, the howl fades. Your mind is hollow, save for one lone voice.*

The Emperor: Bane's Chosen has fallen - his Netherstone is yours. You have done well.

Xa'rok: I heard the Absolute scream.

The Emperor: You heard the Elder Brain. It's regaining its autonomy. It cries not from pain, but exaltation. We must stop it, before it breaks free.

The Emperor: One Netherstone remains - Orin's. We must find her and take it from her. After that, we take control of the Brain. You should start wondering what you will do then.

Xa'rok: I'll decide once we get there.

The Emperor: ...sometimes, you surprise me with your wisdom.

[theodoradove]

I went to the 2024 Cat Video Fest on a whim (since the first showing was right before A Matter of Life and Death) and it was such a delight to watch silly cat videos in a theater full of laughing people. It's playing at the Roxie several times over the next few weeks as well as in other places across the US (and the proceeds go to cat rescue organizations!).

[andavs]

DEREK PFP GONE SOMEBODY HACKED UR ACCOUNT???!???

I KNOW IT'S SO WEIRD 😭😭😭 But I really love sassy eyebrow Eddie and his big little mug.

[shirogane-oushirou]

more new hairstyle practice that i decided to color bc... he angy... :3 cute....... 💕