#ch: minfilia warde

[lavampira]

my homeland is in your eyes, my duty on your lips. ask anything of me, except to leave you.

[tiredassmage]

Ship meme: Shay and Minfilia? Btw I love your OCs

Roblox oof, I'm sorry this one took me a hot minute, but!!! Thank you so much??!!!! None of them pay rent, but that's the power of love <3 lol

(send me a ship suggestion for my ocs & I'll give you thoughts! For free!)

So, context: Shay is not unfamiliar with keeping temporary company, and it's likely those kind of arrangements he only recently sort of tapered off on when he's meeting the Scions. Shay... isn't exactly big on commitment, lol - and while he sure has his reasons based on his history, he's also... hellaciously stubborn and not very good at coping mechanisms, to be entirely fair to his choices - which is to say, they're not always healthy. Or good.

Which is a long-winded set-up for - he probably wouldn't have been looking at Minfilia. I'd definitely never thought of it, but... now that you've mentioned it - she's got a lot of what ultimately draws him to Airi - she's passionate, she's dedicated to her ideals, she's caring, and (to call out an amazing friend with a Minfy x WoL ship) particularly @ffxivbabey writes her with a sense of humor Shay could warm to.

He is... kind of a disaster, tbh? He's withdrawn and errs on the callous side on appearances, but Minfilia's almost notoriously patient and can almost stubbornly believe in the pc's potential, I feel. While she's one of many that adorns you with accolades for your work, I don't think she's quite as naive as appearances may first seem. Minfilia's good at searching for the best in people and situations earnestly - a quality almost necessary to make anything lasting and deep with Shay. He's a bit of a fixer upper, if you'll allow me the metaphor. xD

In short, you're onto something, I think! It'd ask a lot of patience from Minfilia (from anyone, tbh), but she's of the right qualities to make it work. She's even the right brand to temper some of the harsher edges of his cynicism - something Shay ultimately admires in others, despite how stubborn he is to bend.

They're both... incredibly dedicated, however, lol. They'd possibly butt heads over Shay's protective and sometimes possessive streak. She's the kind of person that'd stick something out though, I think, and make Shay work through things instead of running off from his problems, so it's definitely got potential. She'd definitely tease him about his need to be the protective, brooding knight though. xP

[potassium-pilot]

FFXIVWrite 2023, Prompt 26: Last

Alphinaud called his comrades back to the Rising Stones once again. The seven of them stood in Dawn's Respite near the desk, all in a group minus Estinien, who leaned near a wall. Alphinaud awaited one face in particular, one that he had hoped would stand with him once more.

"Has Dia arrived?" Alphinaud asked Y'shtola.

The Miqo'te shook her head. "No, I've not seen her come in. She may be unable to join us, given her injuries."

"I can only pray she will. I've held off on asking this specifically because I needed her input."

"Give her some time, Alphinaud. I can only imagine she's struggling to move about in her condition", Thancred added.

Still, the teenager couldn't help but be nervous. It wasn't necessarily out of concern for her condition alone, although her health still played a role. Rather, it was what he had called them for that filled him with doubt. Alphinaud could well remember times where she attempted to talk sense into him and he rebuffed her advice. This time, he would listen, and none knew how to fill him with confidence better than her.

The door to Dawn's Respite opened.

The seven of them turned around and saw who walked in. With cane in hand, a brace around her left knee, and an arm in a sling, Dia hobbled in and gave a sheepish smile. "Hope I didn't keep you all waiting."

Estinien lifted himself off the wall, ready to offer help, but she seemed to refuse it from any of the seven of them. Thancred, knowing well who they were dealing with, prepared a chair instead, holding it solid while she attempt to sit down, muscles creaking and sharp breaths following her attempts. Once she was well and seated, Alphinaud returned closer to her.

"Worry not for our sake. How are you feeling? I'm glad to see you've not lost your ability to walk."

"No, I've been working on that much. I'm doing better. I'll leave it at that."

"Don't tell me you walked here", G'raha asked in disbelief.

"Gods no. I will say, though, I'm very lucky I made this place a favored teleport ages ago. Never mind the tax savings- it's easier to latch onto Revenant's Toll."

Alphinaud smiled. "Undeterred, as ever." He nodded. "Very well. As we've all arrived, I should probably explain why I've called you all here."

"If this is about whoever keeps eating through the bloody food supply, I'm ready and armed", Estinien half-joked.

"No." Alphinaud cleared his throat. "I called you all here to discuss something I'd like to bring up with the remainder of our members. Before I do that, I would like to know that the idea has your support."

"Go on, Alphinaud. I'd like to return to Garlemald sooner rather than later", Alisaie nudged him.

Alphinaud bowed his head and closed his eyes. "I wished to discuss the future of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn."

"What about the future? We're here to aid in times of crisis", Thancred asked.

"But that was not the original goal of our humble group. My grandfather worked with Minfilia and several others to combine the Circle of Knowing with the Path of the Twelve in an effort to combat the primal threat that yet existed. With the existence of warding scales, however, anyone can combat the threat given that they have the strength. The only reason the group developed any notoriety was due to the existence of Warriors of Light within our ranks, including Dia here. The Echo is no longer a necessary measure against primal activity. Not to mention, the Grand Company of Eorzea is fully formed, making the idea of more primal activity seem unlikely. Even if there are tempered, there now exists a cure for this condition."

"It does need work, mind you. It's not perfect", Alisaie reminded him.

"And I'm afraid that I've more information to scrounge on the matter from our friend from the Third Astral Era who provided us this supposed cure", G'raha added.

"And I've no doubt you'll both continue this work. Nevertheless, the existence of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn seems redundant in the face of these changes, all of them admittedly spearheaded by us.

Thus do I propose that we disband and allow the nations of the Grand Company of Eorzea to care for their own concerns without our aid."

An odd mixture of looks were received by Alphinaud. Shock mixed with confusion and some relief was worn by the faces of most of the Scions, except for Dia, who remained stone-faced.

"...so we would go our separate ways", Y'shtola mused. "You would propose that we no longer aid as part of an organization?"

"Aye. 'Twould seem that we are more than capable of doing such a thing on our own", Alphinaud answered.

"Well, I see now why you asked for advise", Tataru piped in as she entered the room in a rush.

"T-Tataru!"

"Sorry, Alphinaud. I'm afraid I had Dia on linkpearl the whole time."

Alphinaud scowled at Dia.

"You're sorry? I'm not", Dia cracked with a wry grin aimed at Tataru.

Alphinaud sighed. "Well, now you know."

"Alphinaud, there are people here who rely on having what we have available here...like me, for instance...", Tataru admitted.

"Tataru?" Alphinaud asked.

"I don't know where I'd go. This is my home, Alphinaud."

Alphinaud frowned.

"I do see thy wisdom in ensuring that the disparate nations rely not on our puissant name", Urianger piped in. "However, to abandon the organization entirely would be to add difficulty for any future endeavors. Thou art correct that the threat of everlasting despair hath been quelled by our efforts, and that the purpose of our organization hath been fulfilled. But we know naught of the future. 'Twould be in the best interest of all that the Scions of the Seventh Dawn yet live to fight another day."

"That in mind, I wouldn't mind branching out into my own personal ventures", Thancred added.

"Indeed. I could use this time of peace to study further rather than taking on different duties here", Y'shtola joined in.

"What of you, Estinien?" Alphinaud asked.

He laughed. "I'm afraid I'm only here to follow wheresoever it is you lead. I've no idea what to do with this group we have here. Comparatively, I've only just arrived."

"Alisaie?"

"I'm with Urianger for this purpose. We don't know what's coming in the future."

Alphinaud nodded. "G'raha?"

G'raha grimaced, then shook his head. "Though I'm pleased to have been a part of this group, I refuse to control its destiny. Much the same as Estinien, I've only just arrived."

Then the seven of them looked to Dia. She seemed not to notice before asking, "Huh?"

"What do you think?" Alphinaud asked.

"Oh, you know me. I've always left the important stuff to you. I'm here for the ride."

"The ride's almost over", Thancred pointed out, "And in case you've not noticed, what we've done as an organization had led you in here with a cane and an arm sling. If anyone should have a say in the future of things, it should be you."

"We've three people who believe it might be time to disband and three who believe we should stay as a group", Alisaie counted, "And two who have chosen to abstain", she glared at Estinien, who gave a shrug. "Now what about you? I think you would be our tie-breaker."

"So what are you thinking, Dia?" Y'shtola asked before giving a laugh. "It's odd. I remember when I found you, a fledgling adventurer who had only just begun to make a name for herself in La Noscea. Now I'm asking you to control the fate of the very organization I helped recruit you into all those years ago."

They continued to stare. Dia, who didn't like it at all, decided to pitch, "Why not both?"

Eyebrows raised across the room.

"Let's just...stick together, but make it seem like we've broken up."

Alphinaud seemed rather fond of that idea. "But of course...we return to secrecy. We go our separate ways, but we would all remain Scions at our core. This way, should the world need our aid, we would yet have a headquarters to return to in a pinch."

"I like it. We should probably make it seem as though we're no longer using the place, however", Thancred pointed out.

"Indeed." Alphinaud looked to Tataru. "My friend, would you like to own the Rising Stones officially?"

Tataru's eyes sparkled. "Yes! Yes, that would be perfect! I can get started!"

"Started?"

"Never mind that. Oh, I love it, Alphinaud!"

"A solid idea, Dia. Where did you get it from?"

"I'm barely here, yet I'm still a Scion. Why can't that apply to everyone else?"

All of them conceded to her point with a "Hm."

"Then, let us bring this chapter of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to its end. We go our separate ways, but we know now more than ever that we are bound by our promises made here", Alphinaud declared.

A feeling of satisfaction hanged in the air. Light chit-chat took place between all of them; Alphinaud and Alisaie chatted between the two of them while Thancred, Urianger, and Y'shtola conversed among themselves. Estinien was waylaid by Tataru before he could make his way to Dia. G'raha, however, stepped towards Dia and squatted down to face her eye to eye.

"Well, I didn't quite expect that my time with all of you would be so short."

Dia smiled. "You're still a Scion. You'll just be a Scion in wherever it is you're going. Speaking of, where in hells are you going? Back to N.O.A.H?"

G'raha laughed to himself and shook his head. "No, I'm afraid I've become too intimately familiar with the Crystal Tower. Their research, albeit of great importance for the future, even without an Eighth Umbral Calamity, is a field I would rather leave to them."

"Fair enough."

"No, but Krile did make an offer of sorts- something that would allow me to remain in Sharlayan and be useful."

"That sounds nice."

"And you? I presume most of your time will be spent towards making a full recovery?"

"Tell you the truth, though I would never forsake any of you, my life, with or without the Scions, will remain ever the same. While I intend to make a full recovery before I go back to doing anything too strenuous, I'm planning on returning to my usual historical studies of Nym and refining the DuPointe method. I also received a strange letter from a researcher named Nemjiji in Sharlayan about some oddity discovered that they think I might know more about, but I told them I can barely walk, and that they might want to look elsewhere if they want more immediate progress."

"Do you know if they've done that?"

"They said they'll have to accept slow progress."

G'raha smiled.

"Still", Dia continued, "Even if things aren't really changing for me, it's odd to see this. An end of an era, really. I remember going to the Waking Sands back in the day. Now Min's not even here."

"Minfilia, you mean?"

Dia nodded.

"I wouldn't think of this as an end. Rather, a beginning", G'raha tried to advise.

"I think I've heard that one too many times."

"It is true, however. While you have been irrevocably changed by your experiences with the Scions, this presents you with a blank slate, and in a much better condition than when you started."

G'raha smiled. "Fate no longer controls you. Hydaelyn is no more. The expectations once thrust upon your shoulders shall diminish. You will have no obvious duties to the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. You are free to write your own destiny."

Dia looked down. "I think if you told me that a year ago, I would have been far more excited. Right now, however, I'm...I'm so fucking tired, G'raha. I'm too exhausted to consider writing any destinies right now. My destiny, as things stand, is that I will return home, I will take some painkiller, and I will sleep. That's the most amount of destiny I can handle at the moment."

She looked back to him sheepishly. "Sorry you're getting the sleepy Warrior of Light. Technically, you're not even getting a Warrior of Light; I tossed that out on the way home from the Ragnarok. Still, I know you would have preferred the one that could show you more of Ishgard and take you on that grand adventure. I'm just not there."

G'raha shook his head. "Recovery from this sort of thing is not easy in the least. We managed to somehow return you from the dead. And I certainly do not feel entitled to the promises we made to one another in Base Omicron. You gave me the hope I needed to face despair with your promises. I will wait for when you are fully ready and willing to do such a thing with me. Whatever ends we see here, rest assured that our friendship will not."

Dia nodded, touched by his sincerity. "Thank you."

"Of course. Now, shall we see this final meeting to its conclusion?"

"Let's do it."

[final-fantasy-mama]

Moonlight Ballistics (Ch.3)

Emet Selch X Mature/Wol

Emet tries to coerce some information from the WOL, things get heated, things backfire!

“Perhaps a clear and unambiguous act of kindness will serve to win the trust you seem so determined to deny me. “ ~Emet Selch

A hand grabbed her shoulder, shaking her out of her stupor and jump starting her fight reflex. He was lucky she didn't pull a gun on him. Thancred Waters was always pulling dumb pranks on her so it was wont of him to startle her out of her daydream.

"Had a bit too much wine love?" He smirked as she gasped and held a hand over her heart. Night had returned to the Raktika Great woods with the destruction of its light warden, the light Aether absorbed into the warriors body and now they celebrated with the Night's Blessed. A large pyre burned into the center of the village, where music blared and people danced. Wine flowed freely to all their cups and the night was filled with a merriment that it had not seen in over 100 years. The Hero too had been celebrating with them but she felt as if something had pulled at her mind, some far distant memory that bit at her but stayed just out of her reach. Her head felt buzzed from wine and also from a sensation that was unfamiliar, not from the Aether that swam through her, but something else. Something heavy that was pressing against her psyche but would not show itself.

She shook the feeling away and smiled at her friend. "Definitely too much wine and too much dancing."

"Mayhap you need to clear your head for a moment. Go take a dive into the lake." He laughed.

"You going to join me for some skinny dipping?" She teased back with a coy smile.

"Wish I could but I’ve got a kid now so I’m off limits." The gunbreaker joked back.

The hero had to laugh too as she knew all too well the pressures of being a good parent. "Thancred, be sure to tell her...Minfilia…tell her everything she does good and don't be afraid to tell her you love her. In fact, tell her so much that she'll hate hearing it."

He sighed and his expression was solemn. "You're far more adept at this whole parenthood thing than I. How the hell do you do it?"

"Lots of coffee in the daytime and wine in the evening." She joked and he chuckled while walking back to the camp.

That lake idea wasn’t half bad. The hero hadn’t bathed since the battle with the light warden and the revival of her dear friend Y'shtola at the hands of Emet Selch, her skin was caked with dirt and sweat and dip into cold water seemed like the closest thing to a bath she would get. So, she forced her legs to carry her away from the encampment and towards the nearest body of water as the din of the celebration grew fainter and fainter.

But as she reached the lake edge and gazed at moonlit waters she was bothered. What had she been doing in those few minutes she had been daydreaming? She had been drinking and dancing and then there was a hole in her memory, a chunk of time unaccounted for as if her mind was neither here nor there. She was not drunk, slightly tipsy but not drunk enough for a full black out, and as far as she could tell, her Aether was still intact and holding well despite having absorbed three light wardens. Come to think of it, when Emet was regaling them tales of Zodiarks birth inside the Qitana Ravel she had felt the same thing. Looking at the cave murals of the two gods, she zoned out, completely blanked and spaced, for just a few minutes before snapping back to reality. She was never one to space out during missions as every moment usually meant life or death. What on Earth was going on in her mind?

The hero knelt by the water’s edge and began to strip off machinist leathers that felt too cloying, too tight against her skin in a way that was unnatural. She had worn those clothes for ages and yet right now, they felt foreign and cumbersome and she just wanted room to breathe. Stripping down to her white loose blouse she dipped a handkerchief into the cold waters and sponged her face and neck, staring at her own reflection on its surface. It felt foreign to her, like she was not really looking at herself and then she looked up at the moon, stood up and stretched her arms up trying to cup its radiance in her hands as if it were a child’s toy she could pluck from the sky.

Emet Selch’s eyes widened and he clenched his fist at his side while he watched her from the shadow of a nearby tree. Her sudden despondent behavior had not gone unnoticed and he made to watch her closely. This was all going according to plan after all and weather she slayed the light wardens are not was of no consequence. Either she was going to die trying or the light would consumer her in the end, both outcomes worked to his advantage weather she realized it or not. But knowing her, she most likely knew. So, then what was her angle? What was she planning to do about it? This cunning, this cleverness was what kept him coming back for more and it’s what most resembled her.

What a fireball Altima had been, her perceptive eyes, her burning heart, her anger, her love, her rage, her courage….he had been a moth to her flame and weather he wanted to admit it or not, he still was. They were two great and powerful minds always trying to outwit each other weather it was in the audience halls of the convocation or in the privacy of their own rooms, when they’re two bodies would intertwine with such ferocity and passion one would not know where one began and the other ended.

Emet gritted his teeth and shook the memory away. He had spent the past few Eons avoiding any and all her shards and now here he was “cooperating” with one. It was infuriating on one hand to see her so reduced in power but she retained enough of herself that it almost made him uncomfortable. If she ever knew what she really was and regained those memories, there was no doubt that she would destroy him. He was far too curious to let the opportunity slide even though he was breaking his own rules by contacting her but when had he ever followed the rules?

The hero groaned out loud as she rubbed her sore shoulders and yawned. “Emet Selch, did I not say that I prefer you where I can see you?”

“Indeed, you did.” He remarked as he stepped forward and joined her by the lake side. “But old Ascian habits are hard to break especially around someone as…renowned as you.”

“Ohhhhh I’ve become an Ascian boogie man!” She cheered and fist pumped the air. “One life goal fulfilled!”

“Oh don’t get ahead of yourself hero.” He rolled his eyes.

She laughed gently and looked back up at the moon, its light illuminating her face and sparkling in her eyes.

“You didn’t strike me as the type who cared for moon gazing.” He mentioned noting how entranced she looked.

“I don’t know why….it’s just tonight it looks exceptionally beautiful.” She explained. “I just want to reach out and grab it in my hands. Keep it in my pocket like a treasure and give it to my daughter….”

“You’re drunk.”

“I’m not drunk, I’m musing.” She corrected and wagged a finger at him

“You muse when you get drunk, trust me dear, we’ve bantered like this before.” He said with a heavy sigh and then put a hand to his temples, messaging the flesh as if warding off a headache.

"I wonder if its made of cheese, The moon. My daughter always asks me that. What do you think? Would it be swiss or guda?"

"Now you're just being silly."

"Brie?"

"Do you want me to snap some food into existence? Is that what you want?" Emet asked in a annoyed voice.

"I'm just playing with you." She reached over and pinched his cheek. "I know the moon is basically a rock that revolves around our earth due to gravity. I may be silly but i'm not and idiot. It would be nice to get a closer look though."

Emet groaned and slumped in exasperation. “Zodiark....If you vomit on me, I’ll be intensely and irrevocably pissed off and try not to scream either. I can’t stand the shrill voices of damsels in distress.”

“What in Thal’s Balls are you talking about?” She asked. as a strong arm grabbed her waist and hoisted her off the ground. Soft fur tickled her nose as Emet’s strong body pressed up against hers and up they shot into the air.

Luckily for him, she didn’t scream, but she put a death grip around his neck that could have chocked the life out of a chocobo as she clung to him. He thanked his human body for being so resilient as they continued up and up until finally stopping. Her face was buried in the fur lining of his jacket as he spoke into her ear. “Look up hero.”

“WHATTHEEVERLOVINGFUCKWEREYOUTHINKING?!” She cursed into his chest in a muffled voice.

“Just take a deep breath and look up.” He said gently and firmly grasped her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him. The fear in her face from the unexpected inertia was evident as her eyes seemed to quiver in their sockets and her hands refused to loosen their grip on his collar, but after a few seconds she realized how close they were and cleared her throat. She took a shaky breath and finally looked up. Her eyes went wide and mouth slightly gaped open as she audibly gasped. The fear giving way to fascination when she noticed how close they were to the jewel in the sky.

Every detail, every crater and dune could be seen with the naked eye as a full moon greater than anything she had ever seen and closer than she ever thought possible, hung before her in the sky. They had shot up so far into the atmosphere that she literally felt like she could reach out and touch its surface. Its light washed over the both of them as they simply hovered there, basking in its glory. In all her life she had never seen anything like it, and that was saying a lot, for as the warrior of light life often handed her a barrage of surprises both good and bad.

“By the Twelve…..” She said in a shaky voice, her eyes refusing to blink or turn away from it.

“Does this satisfy your childish curiosity?” Emet finally asked after a time, keeping a firm arm around her.

She finally teared her eyes from the moon and settled on the man holding her. “What is this for?”

He raised a brow at her query.

“Why would you do this for me?” She couldn’t finish her sentence as she averted her gaze and felt heat on her cheeks.

He smiled at her discomfort. “You have slain no less than three light wardens and seem to be faring well….more than I had anticipated…. You have accomplished what no other could ever hope to. Such heroic deeds deserve appropriate rewarding do they not? Consider this a gift for entertaining me.”

“But I should be thanking you for bringing back Y’shtola.” She said as she squirmed in his arms, trying her best not to look down.

“That was a token of trust.” His smile turned sultry as he squeezed her waist and put a hand to her cheek. “I said what I meant and I meant what I said when we first met. You have no reason to doubt me but if you wish to reward me…..”He purred into her ear. “I will not reject any favor you show to me….and this time you don’t have your little guns to protect you.”

Her heart nearly stopped. By the fury she had left her gun by the lakeside and was too distracted by him and the wine to put back into her back holster! She shoved her hands against his chest. “Don’t you even think about it!”

“I’m thinking of nothing, sweet hero. “His lips hovered over hers mockingly. “Whatever has you nervous is the result of your own lascivious imagination.”

“Them’s fighting words, Emet Selch.” She growled against his lips.

“It would wound me for eternity if you choose falling to your death over sharing a small moment of intimacy with me.” He pouted but amply reminded her that they were a few good malms floating above the raktika great woods.

“You always twist something good into something nasty!” She cursed.

“Well I am an Ascian after all.” He chuckled, not giving her any room to escape.

“Ass is definitely part of it!” She agreed as she struggled but after a few moments she forced herself to relax in his arms and gave a very big exasperated sigh. “Oh for the love of…..okay…alright.” She said in a defeated voice and swallowed her pride. With her face burning she looked him over and tried to focus on his lips. They were nice shape, slightly pouty and moist, with all his eons of experience he was probably a fantastic kisser but this was uncharted territory for the Hero, she hadn’t kissed anyone in years and a certain atmosphere was needed for such things.

Her eyes moved up to his and she locked gazes with his yellow orbs. He was an enemy and yet he talked to her as if they were old friends, he grinded her gears, sassed her, chided her, goaded her in a way that only someone close to her could. He seemed to know all the right buttons to push and how to make her squirm with his words where other men could attempt the same thing and not get any reaction from her whatsoever. Who is this man?

Without thinking she reached up and cupped his face, studying him intensely, and in return he studied her. How her eyes seemed to cloud over for a moment, lids closing halfway as her mouth halfway parted as if in a trance. She leaned in slowly and pressed her lips against his and he graciously received them, surprised at her boldness and that she had managed to make the first move.

Their lips moved against each other’s slowly and gently until she bit down slightly on his lower lip. He grunted in surprise and allowed her tongue to slip into his mouth, caressing his and when the subtle warmth of her Aether mingled with his, he felt it. Power. So much power that her body could scarcely contain it all and yet it did, by either the grace of her Goddess or something else, it burned through her like a star in her core.

He pushed harder against her, his mouth dominating hers as he laced fingers through her hair, he wanted to see how deep that power went, what lay at its center and unlock all of her secrets. His darkness pushed through her light causing her to gasp and jolt in his arms but he held her still.  Their kiss bridged the power between them as he reached the peak of that burning star within her and caressed it with his own Aether.

People? Visions? Phantoms flashed behind his closed eyes as he traversed her soul, faces of several people, her own shards, friends and family revealed themselves to him. But when he tried to push further, his mind whited out, something blocked him and he could see the spirit of a man, who was not any of hero’s shards, standing like a sentinel at the gate of her inner psyche.

Emet had never seen him before, this tall elezen male with a sharp face and light blue hair. His eyes were closed as he simply stood there with a sword and shield in hand, a guardian knight who stood sentry within her against creatures like the Ascian who might try to invade her mind. The shield the knight held gave away his identity, a red unicorn head sitting atop a royal vine. Ah yes, the Ishgardian Family Crest for House Fortemps. This must have been Haurchefant Greystone.

The shade of Haurchefant spoke. “Does my lady know you are here?”

Emet eyed him suspiciously and could see that over the knight’s shoulder, he was shielding someone. For a brief moment he saw the familiar hue of silken hair and a crown of gems and flowers before Haurchefant stepped forward, hiding his ward from view, and opened his eyes.

“If she has not given you permission to come here, then I must ask you to leave. Your presence upsets her.” And with that he lifted his sword and swung it down hard and Emet was cast out of her mind with such a force he cried out.

His eyes snapped open as he broke the kiss with the Warrior of Light and they were as before, only the hero’s body was limp, her head thrown back, eyes closed and groaning as if in pain. The Ascian had probed too deep, causing the hero’s aether to repel him and most likely she felt the snap of him being cast out as keenly as he had. In her case though, instant unconsciousness was the result whereas for him it felt more like a slap in the face. Oh how frail these Hyuran creatures were.

Looking down at the Warrior, something possessive and inconceivable overcame him. “It couldn’t be, its simply not possible!” He growled in a low voice. A million thoughts crossed his mind at this revelation, for within the warrior lay a sliver of the one soul he both desired with all his Ascian heart to see again, but feared what would happen if he did. He had found Altima and this posed a myriad of problems to his well laid out plans.

He cradled the hero in his arms and floated back down to the earth, landing amidst the celebrating colleagues and startling them all into silence. The music stopped, everyone turned to watch him and Thancred ran forward at the sight of his friend limp in the Ascian’s arms.

“Dare I even ask what you did to her?” Thancred said as he took the hero into his own arms, Emet did nothing to protest and handed her over without a fight.

“She simply had a bit too much to drink. Her poor head couldn’t take much more “stimulation” this evening. A bit of rest should do her well.” Emet said cryptically. “See to it she is well cared for, considering how you rely on her so.”

Thancred scrunched his brow. “What’s that supposed to mean.”

Emet turned to go and gave a haughty imperial wave of his hand. “Never you mind. I bid a good night to you all.”

[lavampira]

I saw you in a dream, then it came to an end I wonder if you’ll come and visit me again

[lavampira]

kiss prompts!! what about 46 for alia & minfilia?

ty sydney mwah!! 🖤

46. a lingering kiss before a long trip apart | ffxiv. wol x minfilia warde. vaguely set during the post-2.0 patches. 895 words. [prompts]

The Solar greets D’alia with the all-encompassing warmth of the fireplace as she steps past the heavy door. Her eyes skim the stone room for the Antecedent, gliding past the armchair where she has spent many a late evenings dozing with her nose in her grimoire and a low-stoked fire for comfort, and settle on the familiar braided blond updo belonging to the woman hunched over a spread of parchments on her desk.

A testament to her focus, Minfilia doesn’t even look up at the reverberating footfall of her boots on the hard floor. At least, not until D’alia comes to a halt right in front of her desk and leans on splayed palms, rosy hair falling around her shoulders. Her lips twitch in the hint of a smirk as the other woman’s head snaps up at the realization of company.

She does not allow herself to dwell on an older fear, one rooted in bloodshed and kidnapping amidst their last headquarters, knowing it to be illogical to be vigilant at all bells while simply attending to her bureaucratic tasks. Nay, she suppresses those thoughts—they would not do when she is soon to depart on a task of her own. Instead, she releases a shaky exhale before widening her teasing grin.

“Minfilia, you wound me. What must I do to earn your attention before I leave?”

“Oh!” Eyes widening and a flush of pink blooming over her cheeks, Minfilia meets her gaze. “Forgive me, Alia. I seem to have lost myself in all this correspondence.”

“Naught to forgive. I know full well how busy you are, too.”

Minfilia grimaces as she rises to her feet. “An unfortunate truth.”

Weaving around the corner of the wooden desk, D’alia moves between her and the source of her distraction, and hoists herself onto its surface. As always when she does this, Minfilia’s laugh echoes light and airy through the room before she covers it shyly behind her hand. D’alia reaches for it, unfurling her fingers to lace with her own and place into her lap, and glances up at her with an unbidden smile.

Her hands have roughened with her years of adventuring and felling primals, but Minfilia doesn’t seem to mind as her thumb rubs idle circles into her bare skin. A soft sigh escapes her, enclosing D’alia’s hold with her other hand as well, their own entangled form of comfort in spite of the knowledge that they must part for a time. Again.

“It pains me to let you go,” Minfilia admits softly, squeezing her hand.

D’alia bites back the I despise leaving you that threatens to spill past her lips. ‘Twould only add to Minfilia’s guilt in having to remain behind in Revenant’s Toll, she knows, and the simple fact is that duty pulls them in separate but necessary directions, as oft the case and such as they have known since fitting themselves into each other’s lives this way. But in the deepest part of her very being, D’alia loathes to disappoint her.

“I shall return in no longer than a moon,” she assuages, dragging the hand still in hers to the silky pink ribbon that she had opted to tie around her thigh that morning, and she can’t entirely blame the warmth spreading across her skin on the nearby fireplace. “And you’ll be the first I see when I do, darling.”

And this, too, is a confession: Minfilia releases her only to cradle her face between her palms, an earnest and open desire in her gaze, and presses her lips against hers as she closes the gap between them. D’alia arches into her and her tail winds around her lover’s leg, stricken with fervent need to have her close with the deepening kiss. If she could hold onto this moment, and merge them together to carry in her heart on her journey, she would without hesitation.

‘Tis a crueler truth that her heart will remain in the Rising Stones when she departs.

D’alia allows her hands to roam, finding purchase on the soft curve of her waist and back of her neck to draw her nearer. She’s rewarded with a low hum that she feels more than she hears, and Minfilia breaks away with the quirk of her lips into a shadowed smile, leaning her forehead against her, almost as if unwilling to completely part, drawn by sheer magnetism. Their noses brush with the movement to prove the point, but it bothers neither, content to sit with the lingering breaths between them.

“Pray return to me hale and whole.” Minfilia’s lips ghost over hers when she finally speaks again, still not quite able to fully pull away from her, even as her fingers rake the rosy hair away from her face. “And spare me no details of your latest adventure.”

“As you wish.”

Another kiss to the corner of her mouth follows, her lover’s gratitude for granting her the boon of her promise, for she has never broken her word to her. And another, this one meeting the curved line of her jaw, hands gently tilting her head, and D’alia follows her guidance, pliant to her touch. Every lingering kiss trailing lower threatens to make her late, but she finds it more difficult to care.

For she would much rather cling to the phantom of Minfilia’s lips on her skin in the days to come.

[lavampira]

what am I, if not yours? what do I do with my hands when they are just hands?

[lavampira]

rotating so many thoughts about the alia-minfilia-thancred-ryne dynamic during shadowbringers at terminal velocity

[ffxivbabey]

Sleeping mimirs

[ffxivbabey]

Happy Valentines my brain is too mush to write coherently but here are some girlies (I tried for other ships too but after trying to make Lyseka hold hands I and my pc had had enough of anam for one night)

[final-fantasy-mama]

Reload and Release (Ch.2)

Emet Selch X Mature/Wol

Takes place during the Raktika Great Woods event, loosely follows cannon with some dialogue changes.

****************************

“Can we simply not take a moment to enjoy the view together? Or would you rather I spied from the shadows?” ~ Emet Selch.

“I for one would prefer you where I can see you.” The hero spoke up after everyone else went silent. Emet Selch was grinding on everyone’s nerves with his comings and goings as well as his snobbish attitude. It took all the will power Thancred had not to take a swing at the Ascian while they all made they’re way through the Great woods in search of Y’shtola. If the hero hadn’t stepped in to hold him back, he very well would have.

With a hand holding Thancred’s sword arm, she stepped forward to confront the ever-growing source of their discomfort. “I know we’re all on edge here, but can we please just try to get along for the remainder of the journey. I don’t want to waste precious bullets on either of you!” She scolded like a mother would a child as she was wont to do. She was a mother after all, it ran in her blood. "By the fury, my 8 year old has more sense and maturity than the lot of you put together!"

Emet shrugged his broad shoulders but submitted to her in the end. “Of course, hero, my apologies. But Perhaps you should keep your rabid dog on a leash.”

Thancred ground his teeth and took a threatening step forward. “Why you son of a…!”

“We’ve got children with us and that was a cheap shot Emet Selch!” The hero raised her voice to hush her companions and then marched up to the Ascian. “You are to stay in my sights and by my side at all times from here on out! No ifs ands or buts! And if you give me or them any lip, I’ll throw you over my knee and spank the Zodiark out of you!”

Emet gave a coy smile. “Oh, that is just too enticing a punishment to not attempt.”

She shot him a look that could kill and hissed. “I will make sure you don’t enjoy it!”

With a small bow and look of sly satisfaction he submitted and motioned for her to lead them on. So, she did just that as they walked deeper into the woods. Everyone finally silenced by her intervention and the zipped mouth of the Ascian.

Another hour had passed before Minfilia spoke up. “W…would it be possible to rest for a bit?”

“Are your feet bothering you?” Thancread asked looking down at his young ward.

She shook her head and hid her face. “It…its not that its just…” a loud rumble resounded from the pit of her stomach that made everyone stop and stare at her. She blushed furiously.

“It has been a while since we have had anything to eat. Maybe a rest is in order?” Alisaise suggested with a small laugh.

The hero nodded her agreement as everyone sought the shade of the nearby trees and sat down to rest. Alisaise dropped her shoulder bag and fished out some rations and then passed them around but hesitated when she glanced at Emet who stood by the hero’s side. “I don’t suppose someone like you would enjoy food like this….” She began and he waved a dismissive hand to her.

“You’re correct, I would not.” He said simply.

“No need to be arrogant about it.” She said under her breath and offered some to the hero who also refused.

“I’ll stand guard while you all eat.” The hero offered and walked a few yalms away to a better vantage point with Emet at her heel.

He nearly bumped into her when she suddenly stopped. “I said you had to stay by me not on me!”

“And miss a chance to receive a royal spanking?” He smirked.

“Oh gods, its that your kink?” She groaned and reached into her brassier to produce a small metal case. Inside was a few cigarillos that she put to her lips and lit via small lighter. She took a long drag and blew the smoke away from him.

“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

“Tall Guys with pointy ears.” She shot back and offered him a cigarillo. He waved it away.

“How about tall guys with pointy noses?” He joked and pointed to his own rather large hooked Garlean nose.

Another drag of her smoke and she said with a straight face. “Never thought of it. You know I still haven’t forgiven you for invading my room the other night.”

“After the gift and wine and chocolates? I must be losing my touch as most women invite me back after the first time.”

She threw the cigarillo butt to the ground and stomped it out. “I’m not most women and you’re too optimistic for your own good.”

Something dark crossed his face as he stepped in closer trapping her against the trunk of a large tree. “A show of faith then? Shall we continue where we left off the other night?”

With his towering form and shadow hanging over her he leaned in so dangerously close it annoyed her. “Have you made it your mission to seduce me or something????”

“Seeing how it flusters you so can you blame a man for trying?” He purred against her ear.

Her lower eyelid twitched. “Flustered?” She growled as she grabbed him by the jacket collar “Listen here buster! I’m not some red-light hussy you can sway with a cheap smile and bit of gil! I don’t know how they breed women in Garlemald but you’re going to have to work for my favor if you ever hope to gain it!”

Emet’s eye seemed to light up with joy at her rant and he looked at her like a child eyeing a tempting piece of candy. “Oh my you are a fireball!”

She jabbed a finger into his chest. “And you are……..” Her voice trailed off as she gazed over his shoulder and suddenly lashed out, grabbed his collar again and threw him to the side as a arrow buzzed past and planted itself in the tree where his head had been. “AMBUSH!!!!!” She screamed as she pulled out her Musketoon and dragged the Ascian away as they both ran back the way they came.

Arrows pelted the ground and trees around them as the Warrior whipped her gun around, spraying bullets and knocking arrows our of midair with each bang. One hand was firmly on the Ascian’s fur lined collar pulling him along the way one might drag an old dog, only this old dog had a bemused smile on his face the entire way.

The other adventurers were on their feet and ready to go by the time the Hero and Ascian reached them when a group of black clad hunters flanked them and had them effectively trapped.

A large Hrothgar at the lead pointed a finger at them and shouted. “Now surround them!” following a brigade of well-trained bowman had bows at the ready and arrows pointing down at them from all directions.

Everyone slowly put up their hands with the exception of the Hero who only put up one hand and kept the other firmly gripping her companion’s jacket, preventing him from escaping into the shadow’s as was his won’t at times like these.

The lion like face of the Hrothgar looked them over. “These sin eaters…they are not like the others!”

Thancred spoke up in everyone’s defense. “There’s a reason for that. Lower your weapons, please. We mean you no harm.”

“How is it they can speak?” One bowman gasped in confusion.

“It’s a sin eater’s trick! They mean to kill us all!” Exclaimed a nervous female in their group.

There was a moment of silence as both parties sized each other up and tried to mentally decide what to do next. Emet Selch, of course, could not keep his mouth shut to save his or anyone’s lives.

“Oh for the love of…” He drawled in an uninterested tone. “I had hoped that by accompanying you we might come to understand one another. But all I have come to understand is that you have a knack for inflaming the natives. You’ve committed the cardinal sin of boring me. And so I retire to the shade.” When he made to escape in his usually flourish of dark Aether the hero’s hand around his collar kept him in place as she yanked him down to her level and looked him square in the eye.

“No Ifs Ands or Buts, Ascian. Don’t make me regret not shooting you in my room when I had the chance.” She said sternly.

“Then what do you plan to do about all this?” he jutted his head in the direction of everyone else.

A cunning sparkle filled her eye as she let go of his collar to free her hand, grabbed a cylinder off her utility belt, threw it up into the air and shot it quickly with her Musketoon. The whole area bursted with green mist so foul everyone had to raise their hands to block their mouths and nostrils.

While some of their captors did just that others let their arrows loose but the Machinist already anticipated that. She reloaded her gun with special ammo and let off another shot that enveloped her allies in a sphere of blue light and ricochet bullets around them, blocking and knocking any projectiles aimed at them.

With all the coughing and sputtering going on around them from the noxious fumes, she used the opportunity to quick load her gun with gas rounds and shot them off rapid fire, moving her arm in a steady sweeping motion. One after another, the bowman fell to the ground, completely knocked out by whatever gas she managed to pack into her bullets until there was not left but a few spearman  (who were shaking in their sandals) and the Hrothgar who’s eyes were wider than dinner plates.

She had managed to take out the entire brigade in less than a few seconds using only her guns and her keen eyes. She spun the Musketoon in her hand and holstered it on her back as she turned to Emet Selch and said in a cocky tone, “There. Oh Emperor of eternal boredom. Are you not entertained?”

Yellow eyes that quivered with excitement refused to tear themselves from her spry leathered form as a faint blush colored his usually pale cheeks. "Zodiarks Mercy, that was so incredibly and undeniably titillating." He said in a breathy voice that made the hair on her neck stand on end.