the-dragons-knight · 2 years ago
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FFXIV Write 2022
Prompt# 12 - Has He Asked Yet?
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<<Late Heavensward Spoilers Ahead>>
Miss the Boat - ‘be too slow to take advantage of an opportunity’
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“So? Has he asked yet?”
Katsum eyed Y’shtola who was grinning across the table at her, swirling the wine glass in her hand. She’d been asking that a lot lately; especially since the battle on the Steps of Faith with Nidhogg’s shade and the end of the Dragonsong War. She knew who she was asking about; Aymeric. Ever since they had come to Ishgard, Y’shtola and Thancred immediately caught one to the chemistry going on between the Warrior of Light and the Lord Commander and had been keeping a rather close eye on it, asking from time to time if they’d asked each other to go out on a date or a walk or something. Each time, she answered that she hadn’t and he hadn’t asked her, and she could tell the two were slowly getting frustrated at that answer.
“If you are asking what I’m pretty sure you are,” Katsum huffed quietly so that the whole of the Forgotten Knight didn’t hear and handed Midgardsormr who sat on her shoulder half of her butter tea cookie before she lifted her teacup to take a sip, “No. And before you ask-”
“Have you asked him?”
“No…” Katsum rolled her eyes softly, “Why are you so hung up on this? You and Thancred both.”
“Because it’s the first time either of us has seen you smile or fawn over someone, ANYONE. So of course we are maybe playing a bit of matchmaker and making sure he doesn’t slip away from you.” She hummed with a bright smile before she turned her head to the side and looked at her seriously, “Though you do realize that if you don’t act at some point, you may lose him?”
Katsum paused and glanced over at her over the rim of her tea cup.
Y’shtola continued, “He is a very handsome man, Katsum, and a nobleman with a small fortune as well. Let alone that he now holds the highest seat of power in Ishgard. It won’t be long before someone makes a move if you don’t.”
Katsum narrowed her eyes and set down her cup, glaring at Y’shtola slightly, “You aren’t thinking to yourself are you?”
“If I said yes, would that prompt you to make yours?” She shook her head with a laugh as Katsum looked like she was about to hiss at her, “Relax, child. I have no romantic motivations towards him, no. But I will ask him for you if you don’t say something soon.”
Her jaw dropped, “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh but I will,” The white-furred miqo’te finished her glass and stood to her feet, “We haven’t seen you happy before, Katsum. Not truly like we have seen you lately. I don’t want you to lose this so please ask before you regret not asking. And as I said, if you don’t, I will ask him for a date for you. Don’t make me have to embarrass you like that, hm?”
Y’shtola then turned and made her way to the bar to get another drink and Katsum just watched her go. Truly, it was nice of them to be looking out for her and want her to be happy. They had nothing to gain from it - save for maybe some entertainment she guessed - and yet still both Y’shtola and Thancred were moved to try and help her and Aymeric get together. It was heart-warming a little…but it also made Katsum very anxious and feel like she was always being watched with the two of them acting a bit like excited parents wondering when she was going to ask the boy out.
“I suppose you aren’t going to tell them that you both have been ‘going out’ for a month or so now, correct?” Midgardsormr quietly asked from on her shoulder, chuckling, “And you aren't going to tell her about your date tonight either?”
Katsum’s cheek flushed a little as she looked back to her tea cup with a soft smile, “Nope. They’ll figure it out I’m sure, but for now, it’s kind of nice keeping it quiet.”
At this the little dragon chuckled again and munched on his piece of the cookie, “Indeed.”
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the-dragons-knight · 3 years ago
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FFXIV Write 2021
Prompt #16 - Too Much Teasing
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<Shadowbringers Spoilers up to Patch 5.58>
<Slight Mature References>
Crane - ‘to stretch out one’s neck’
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“Come on, Aymeric! Don’t be a tease!” Katsum’s tail lashed as she pouted up at the tall, raven-haired husband of hers as he grinned down at her. The Lord Commander had come to visit the Rising Stones this evening to collect his lovely wife and take her home. They had been talking about their days when Katsum had moved in close, batting her eyes as she’d stood up on her tiptoes and craned her neck waiting for him to lean down to her and kiss her. Aymeric, however, had decided to tease her.
He chuckled as he stood tall, “But twould be so easy to just lean down to kiss you. I’d like for you to kiss me this time.” In other words, he wanted to make her work for it because he was finding her pouting cute.
Never had she felt so humiliated and embarrassed, but she was finding it was only making her want to kiss him more and claim her prize. The strange effects her beloved husband and the love had on her she was sure.
With a huff, Katsum glanced about them, looking for that chair she’d been sitting in not long ago, and took hold of his long shirt sleeve to pull him with her as she stalked towards it. She held fast to him to make sure he did not move away as she stepped up onto the seat of the chair and turned towards him as now she was the one looking down at him. She took a breath to rid herself of her pouting face before laying on the charm and closing him in close to her with the strength she felled beats and monsters with; she would make sure he wouldn’t get away from her. Aymeric was still grinning from ear to ear, moving into her easily as he wrapped his arms around her waist, just barely moving his handsome face and supple lips closer to hers. Yet still, he did not move in to claim them.
“You are so adorable when you pout like this, and your determination to get what you want is just as alluring, my lovely Kat,” He mused, rubbing her side gently until her ears twitched down in annoyance, which only made him laugh.
Katsum narrowed her eyes but she smiled sweetly and snaked her arms around his neck, her tail curling around to hook onto his thigh, and she purred, “You are quite determined to make me take it from you, hm?”
“Oh, yes I am,” He purred back.
With a soft growl, Katsum leaned down and closed the gap between them, claiming his lips for her own as she locked him into place with her arms, pressing herself against him. He hummed through their kiss as she returned its fervor, and Katsum began to relax slightly at the love that poured through it, tilting her head to deepen in the kiss.
And then she felt Aymeric’s arms move from her waist to her hips.
Suddenly, Aymeric stepped backward, pulling her with him and off of the chair. Her body panicked and her legs moved to latch onto his waist as he caught her and prompted them too. She gasped into the kiss, realizing his plan now, and tried to pull away from him to speak before he dove deeper into his mouth with his tongue. The miqo’te growled slightly as she could practically feel Aymeric’s amusement radiating off of him as she fought with him. To be baited into taking charge and then having it swept out from under her…she couldn’t say it didn’t excite her, but it certainly annoyed her as well. After a few minutes, they both pulled away to come up for air, breathing deeply as they pressed their foreheads together.
Nearly breathless, Katsum hissed playfully, though it came out more like a breathy moan, “Aymeric, that was—”
“AHEM.”
Startled by the sound of someone clearing their throat, the two lovers looked over at the door of the Dawn’s Respite to see three people standing there that they had not even noticed step in; Alphinaud, G’raha, and Estinien. Aymeric let her go as slowly helped her land on her feet as she smoothed out her dress quickly and he fixed his tunic and coat. Alphinaud was as red as fire, his hands covering his face, yet his bright red ears fully displayed his blush. G’raha had much the same kind of blush, though his face was clear to see as a small frown and somber expression covered it, his ears dropped with it. Estinien was the only one pretty much unfazed, a roll to his eyes with a slight smirk on his face as he looked at them.
“By the Fury, Aymeric, couldn’t wait to get her home to have a taste?” Everyone froze at this remark, yet Estinien just shrugged and grinned at his old friend, “To think your resolve was so easily broken after all those years you kept your distance from the women of Ishgard. Though it is your wife, I suppose, and the Warrior of Light as well. ‘Tis little wonder you found her patience for her wane.”
“ALRIGHT, I’LL BE GOING NOW. I’M SORRY FOR BARGING IN!!” The young elezen could stand it no longer and turned and ran out the door at this, throwing his apology over his shoulder.
G’raha Tia’s tail twitched nervously then too as his face darkened and he muttered while wringing his hands, “Yes, um…a-apologies. E-Excuse me…”
The red-furred miqo’te pushed past Estinien then and out the door as well, and the dragoon watched him go, “And look, you’ve broken the boy's heart. How cruel, Katsum. He’ll be sulking for weeks.
Katsum’s tail started to lash as she glared at the Azure Dragoon. She reached out and held onto Aymeric’s arm—which he quickly moved to hold her as he thought she was losing her balance, the sweet thing—as she reached down to her foot.
Estinien sighed and grinned as he turned back, “Honestly, you both should be more careful giving into your yearnings so haphazardly. You’ve no idea what havoc your affections for one another maybe bring to others—”
And that was the moment Katsum’s thrown boot slapped him right in the face and quickly shut him up.
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the-dragons-knight · 3 years ago
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FFXIV Write 2021
Prompt #22 - His Scent
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<Mature Themes Ahead, Spicy, but not too spicy>
Fluster - ‘nervous excitement’ ———————————————————— Katsum pressed her nose into the cap of the bottle in her hand, breathing in the smell of the faint smell of the cologne that still lingered there, her ears falling back with her sigh as her tail curled around her legs and over the sheets that coiled around her like a nest, “Oh, Aymeric, please come home soon.”
She still was not used to how these…“heats” made her feel, burning her from the inside out and flustering her as everywhere she moved in this house she could not escape Aymeric’s scent and it was driving her insane with need for him. She had always loved the way he smelled, her feline-like senses always picking up the subtle traces of his tea with birch syrup as well as parchment paper and thick furs, and those senses were only heightened by her weak moments of wanting as they were now. His sweet cologne was no exception as it was one she had picked out for him that first Starlight they shared. The thick, alluring musk of forest trees and mountain air that would on a normal day draw her in to relax made her wild and want nothing more than to bathe in its scent while being wrapped in the warmth of his body. Yet for the moment, that was not an option. Not until he came home.
So instead, here she lay in their bed, undressed down to a wine-red, laced bra with a sheer, baby-doll style cover top and a pair of panties of the same color pressing the cologne close to her face as she nuzzled it. So hot and bothered had she been that she couldn’t stand to wear anything else, hoping the cold of the Ishgardian mountain tops would cool her down, but to no avail. Aymeric’s scent had her captive, and none save the man himself could save her.
Katsum could only hope that she would hear him come in soon as she feared she might lose herself if it was too much longer. She could already feel the warmth of her flushed cheeks growing hotter until she finally discarded the cologne bottle on his nightstand and pulled his pillow into her arms to cuddle against, trying to soothe the ache for any kind of physical contact she could find. It had seemed to help calm her enough to relax and she settled slightly with a gentle purr and curled her tail around as she just nearly found a way to drift off into sleep.
“Katsum? Are you here?” That is until the deep voice of her beloved husband rang in her ears and suddenly she was wide awake.
“Aymeric~,” She gasped, looking towards the door, “I’m here, my love. I'm here!” She would. have tried harder to hide the tremble in her voice, but it was clear that no amount of changing her tone could ever hide the overwhelmed emotions she felt right now.
The dark wood door finally opened as her raven-haired shining knight stepped into the room, a concerned expression on his tired face until he truly took in the sight of her and he gulped. Yet ever the gentlemen until he was given her permission, he merely hastily closed the bedroom door behind him and slowly moved towards the bed, “Are you alright, Kat? You look…very flushed.”
Katsum’s ears perked and she moaned at the sweet sound of his voice, releasing his pillow as she stretched languidly on the covers and drawing his eyes to roam across her skin, “I am now…now that you are here. Oh, how I’ve waited for you to come home~.”
Aymeric cleared his throat as he swallowed thickly and moved to the edge of the bed, trying to keep his eyes from wandering too much and reached out to rest the back of his hand on her forehead, “I have missed you very much as well, my sweet, but are you sure you are not ill?” Yet his question was answered on its own when he indeed felt her forehead burn, but also watched Katsum’s reaction as she purred loudly and pressed against his hand, reaching up to seize his wrist to hold him there. Katsum looked up at him with half-lidded eyes and she watched his eyes both light up with realization and then darken, “Ahh I see. Is it that time again?”
Katsum nodded, moving to sit up on her knees and grab ahold of his coat collar as she pulled him down into a searing kiss. She felt Aymeric sigh into the kiss as he let himself go and leaned on one arm that he placed on the bed beside her while the other wrapped itself under the sheer cover to lay against her heated skin and hold her close, tracing her spine with his fingertips so that she arched into him. She purred into his mouth, her tail encircling his wrist on the bed. Her fingers traveled from the furs of his coat to cup his face and turned her head slightly to deepen their kiss, drawing a soft moan from Aymeric’s mouth. She slowly began to lower them down towards the bed shifting slightly so that she would fall back perfectly in place under him. She’d been waiting all day for him and she was getting tired of waiting, yet before she could succeed in laying them both down though, Aymeric pulled away. He chuckled at her as she tried to chase his lips.
“My, so very eager,” He said, grinning as his playfulness began to show, “I haven’t had a moment to undress yet. You must give me time to.”
Katsum growled softly when he unwound his arm from her back and she dropped to the bed, her tail thumping against the bed with frustration as she lifted herself on her elbows, “I’ll undress you, Aymeric, so please just—”
He answered her by quickly leaning down over her and pressing his lips against her neck, rendering her speechless as any further retort died on her lips. She sighed thankfully as his scent filled her nose again and the feeling of his kisses on her neck soothed her want for physical contact, at least the first strands of it. She tangled her fingers in his hair as she pressed her nose into his neck, pressing small kisses of her own on his skin just under his ear. She felt his voice rumble in his throat as he hummed in response. He broke his kiss to press his nose into her hair and take in her smell before he pulled away slightly to smile down at her.
“But a few moments is all I ask for, my love. It is clear you have been waiting for me all day and so I would not make you fight with buttons and clasps tonight. And I do not wish to have another shirt ripped, hmm?” She looked away at that with an embarrassed expression which only made him smile more as he began pulling off his coat, “I will take care of you, this I promised the day we married and I promise again today. I will not make you wait long.”
“You had better not,” She growled playfully, batting her eyes as she sighed longingly watching his muscles move under his shirt, waiting anxiously for them to be laid bare for her, “I cannot say for how much longer I can restrain myself.”
Aymeric paused to lean in and press his nose against hers, “Neither can I. Not when you are dressed so ravishingly.”
“Aymeric! Please!” She pouted.
“Haha! As you wish, my queen~.”
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the-dragons-knight · 3 years ago
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FFXIV Write 2021
Prompt #21 - A Kiss of Hope
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<Post Heavensward MSQ>
Feckless - ‘lacking or strength of character; irresponsible’
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“How are the two of you related…?”
“I will never know,” Artoirel sighed in response to Katsum’s question, watching his younger brother across the way with the Warrior of Light, “He at least tries more than he used to but…”
The blonde miqo’te shook her head, “Not quite there yet.”
“Indeed…”
They watched from across the ballroom as Emmanellain was trying his best to speak with Lady Laniaitte and a few of her lady friends, yet it was quite clear that she was not having it. Yet still, the poor boy kept trying, trying to put on a suave show for them all. Honoroit was standing a bit off to the side, glancing over at them every few minutes as waiting for a signal to save the young nobleman from further embarrassment.
Artoirel looked down at his glass and swirled it as Katsum took a small sip of her own, “They all know who he is, what he’s like. Word has always traveled fast and his quests have always been finished by another. Yet I suppose trying is warranted for something…yet I can hardly watch for long as it hurts my soul in many ways.”
“Then you may not want to look back now,” Katsum chuckled sadly, drawing his attention, “Looks like she’s finally got his attention and he’s about to retreat, yet if he moves like I think he is…”
Artoirel quickly followed her sapphire gaze again just in time as they watched Emmanellain start to back up. His eyes were downcast to the floor, wringing his hands as he was making his embarrassing exit, not at all noticing the man with the pastry tray coming up behind him. Until it was too late. Emmanellain turned to flee only to come face to tray with the pastries. The baked goods flew into the air in all directions, causing the guests of the party around him to gasp and jump away as Emmanellain was covered in sugars and fruit fillings. It was over in an instant and a few guests laughed while others shook their heads and walked away, leaving Honoroit and the now very stressed servant to fret over the young and downcast noble.
Artoirel buried his face in his hand as a deep and depressing groan left him, “What am I going to do with him? At this rate, he’ll never—”
“Wait!” Katsum’s ears and tail lifted excitedly as she grabbed his arm and pointed, speaking quietly, “Look! Look!”
They watched as one of Lady Laniaitte’s friends stepped forward to Emmanellain and smiled sweetly as she helped him wipe off the sugars and pastries that were to him. He thanked her with a very sheepish look on his face to which she still smiled and nodded to him. She said something else to him yet with the noise of the room, neither Katsum nor Artoirel could hear. Emmanellain’s hand moved to scratch the back of his neck as he looked away from her. Then she did something that no one could have ever expected.
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
Katsum and Artoirel’s jaws dropped.
“Ah, there you are, my love,” Ser Aymeric appeared beside Katsum then with a pleasant and warm smile on his face, “I was looking for…you…? What are you two…?”
“Artoirel,” Katsum mused, watching the young woman step back from a very shocked and blushing Emmanellain, hiding a blush of her own behind a hand as she realized she’d gotten sugar on her lips before she retreated into the crowd,“Go find out her name. Go! Go! We have one chance for this!”
“Right!” With that, Artoirel took to weaving through the crowd in search of the young lady.
Katsum then turned to her dear husband, moving close to him even as his confused eyes watched Artoirel go before looking down at her, “Hello, my knight. Apologises, we were discussing an important matter.” She glanced over at where the servant and Honoroit were happily congratulating a very flustered Emmanellain and helping him clean off the last of the sweets.
Aymeric followed her eyes and shook his head, “You aren’t speaking ill of him are you? You know he’s trying.”
“First of all, you know me better than that, and second of all, as his and Artoirel’s “sister”, I must watch after him when I can…and when I care to.”
Aymeric shook his head with a chuckle, “Kat.”
She took a sip of her drink as she shrugged, “What? I was looking after him…watching as he backed into the pastry tray someone was carrying…BUT he caught someone’s attention. Would you believe it?”
“No, I don’t. What do you mean?”
“I don’t know, I guess she found him endearing somehow.”
“So what did she do?”
“Aymeric, she kissed his cheek. And she blushed afterwards”
Aymeric was silent for a moment before suddenly handing her his glass of red wine, “What was it that she looked like? I shall go and help Lord Artoirel in his search.”
Katsum stopped him before he could go anywhere and handed him back his glass, grinning at him as she nuzzled his arm, “Let’s let Artoirel handle that and you and I relax here, yes? I’ve been waiting for you to finish speaking with the other nobles after all. Want to keep up the image of our marriage, yes?”
Aymeric blinked yet shook his head with a smile, taking back his drink, “How much have you had to drink, my love?”
“It’s not alcohol if that's what you mean. It’s a sparkling drink. I'm simply having far too much fun I suppose.”
Aymeric smiled genuinely, leaning down to kiss her forehead, “Glad am I to hear it.”
As she smiled up at him, a gust of wind rushed past them as they looked over just in time to see Emmanellain’s form disappearing around the corner with Honoroit following behind him.
“SHE KISSED ME!”
“My lord, please stop running!”
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the-dragons-knight · 3 years ago
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FFXIV Write 2021
Prompt #15 - Conquering The Storm
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Thunderous - ‘relating to or giving warning of thunder’
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The heavy feeling of charged energy made Katsum’s fur stand on end as the light falling rain pounded against her armor plating. The thunderous rumbling through the air around them excited her, and she held tightly to Raihogg’s scaled back as his wings fluttered to push them higher into the air, his glowing blue and yellow eyes locked on the storm clouds above them. He told her many times how he and Bridgette would fly into thunderstorms together, weaving through the strikes of lightning and bathing in the rain, and how he had adored those flights. The more he spoke of it, the more fascinated she became until finally, she asked to fly with him through one such storm.
He had hesitated for a moment and confessed, “Forgive my hesitation. I only fear I cannot keep you as safe as I could Bridgette as I am no longer living and breathing in my own body. For without the aether I draw from you and the necklace, you would be falling through the sky alone…”
Katsum had honestly been a little surprised by this answer, but she understood his meaning and it warmed her heart that he worried so. Still, she smiled at him and said, “Then let’s try a smaller storm first and go from there. You’ve gotten me so fascinated with the idea of flying through a storm I can scarcely forget about it so I would still like to try it one day if you’ll allow it.”
The great red dragon had thought for a moment before he nodded with a chuckle, “Ever as Bridgette was, haha. Very well, we shall soar through the thunder and conquer the storms together.”
And today was the day they would conquer the largest storm so far.
The skywatchers had spoken of a very large mass of thunder clouds hanging over the Black Shroud that was moving northward towards Dravania, a strange phenomenon as normally the storms moved away from the mountains, not towards them. This caught Katsum’s curiosity, and when she spoke of it to Raihogg, they both agreed that this would be the storm.
Thunder rolled in the distance as the sky grew darker as the clouds grew thicker, sparks of light flashing ahead of them. Katsum leaned close to the red dragon and shouted over the wind, “Are you ready for this, Rai?!”
The dragon glanced back at her with a small chuckle, “Am I ready? Art thou prepared is the better question. ‘Tis your aether after all.”
She rolled her eyes with a bright smile, her eyes wide with excitement as she looked at the cloud, “I am!!”
The dragon’s wings sliced through the air as he pushed them up into the air to gain a bit of speed, flying a bit higher than the clouds and out into the clear night sky above. Katsum shook the rain from her face and looked down at the flashing cloud below them, the rumbling thunder echoing without ceasing around them. Raihogg hummed and took a deep breath, “Hold fast to me and lean close. I’ll not have you become a lightning rod.”
Katsum lay down on his back, tightening her grip on his scales, yet she patted him softly as well, “You can do this, Raihogg. I believe in you.”
The great dragon chuckled again and smiled at her, “Thank you, Katsum.” She nodded and they turned their eyes to the cloud as Raihogg pushed his wings down and then folded them close as they began their dive into the heart of the storm, “Now let us fly!”
Katsum’s fingers tightened on his scales as the black clouds grew nearer and the heavy electricity in the air grew thicker. The miqo’te pressed herself lower against him as they breached the cloud, surrounded by nothing but blackness for a moment, yet when they broke through the other side, Katsum’s jaw dropped in wonder.
The hollowed insides of the storm cloud were filled with infinite lightning strikes, the streams of electricity striking every inch of the cloud and moving through it like living, breathing creatures swarming within their hive. Raihogg unfolded his wings to soar on the charged winds, his eyes following each strike closely as he dodged them. The knightess watched a charge of lightning flutter over them and hit the wall of the cloud, a stream of bright energy striking afterward and filling the trail the charge had left behind, “This is amazing!”
“Careful now, remember to stay—” Suddenly a charge shot down towards Katsum, and Raihogg shifted quickly to dodge it. Yet the charge would not be so easily shaken and struck the horns of his tail. Raihogg roared as the lightning streamed and Katsum braced for the pain she knew she would feel…yet it never came. Raihogg too seemed surprised as they both glanced back to see the horns of his tail now glowing red with energy, small sparks of lightning popping off of them. As if remembering some lost forgotten memory, Raihogg’s voice rumbled excitedly, “Ah yes….how could I forget. Hold fast to me, my queen. I shall show you how we shall conquer this storm!”
With a roar, Raihogg turned to charge as a bolt of lightning, slicing his wing through the energy so the charge struck the talons on the edge of his winged arm. The lightning flashed as the charge was absorbed into his horns and they too began to glow. He did the same with his other wing and with the horns on his head. His eyes glowed red he slowed and hovered in the middle of the cloud and sucked in a deep breath. Suddenly all the charges of the cloud changed course and shot towards them and Katsum ducked again as they struck his glowing horns. The sky grew dim as the electricity was drawn out of it and into Raihogg’s body until there were no more strikes of lightning and the only source of light inside the dark cloud was Raihogg himself. His red glow made the cloud look rather eerie, yet slowly the cloud began to dissipate, the storm itself no longer able to hold itself together without the charges of thunder and lightning. They hovered there as the cloud broke apart and Raihogg breathed slowly, waiting and he held fast to the sparking energy on its leash, waiting for just the right moment. As the moon and stars came into view again, Raihogg sucked in a large breath and all the glowing light shifted, flowing through his veins and scales to his jaws where it gathered into a great ball of sparking lightning. With one push of his wings, the red dragon turned his head to the sky and shot the ball of lightning into the heavens above them where it flew straight up and then burst into a million streams of lightning, both red and blue, as she spread across the empty starlit sky and vanished.
Katsum sat up and laughed in amazement, “Raihogg! That was amazing!”
The tired dragon fluttered his wings nervously for a moment, breathing heavily as he very carefully started to descend, “A moment if you please.”
He fluttered down to a tall spire of rock that gave him just enough room to land on and dropped heavily onto the stone as he breathed heavily with Katsum. Her heart was racing with excitement as she smiled the biggest smile and patted him, “You did it! You actually did it! That was…that was more amazing than I could have ever imagined!!”
Raihogg chuckled amidst his gasps for breath, but he nodded, “I did not think myself capable of such powers anymore, yet I seemed to have doubted myself far more than I should have.”
Katsum shrugged, “Don’t I know all about that kind of thing myself. Still, don’t push yourself now. Let us rest here for a while until you can breathe normally again before we head home, yes?” She excitedly swished her tail as her ears wiggled happily, “I cannot wait to tell Aymeric about this!”
“You may not want to, for I am quite sure he will go mad with worry for the next flight.”
“….You do have a point there.”
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the-dragons-knight · 3 years ago
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FFXIV Write 2021
Prompt #14 - The Dragon Queen
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<Post-Heavensward MSQ, Post-Dragonsong War, Slight Spoilers ahead>
Commend - ‘to present, mention, or praise as worthy of confidence’
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“That sounds like it must have been so scary, but also like an amazing journey,” Maelie smiled up at Katsum as she petted the small dragonet in her arms, “To have visited another world…it sounds so very strange, yet so fascinating!”
Katsum smiled back as she handed Midgardsormr, who sat on her shoulder, another piece of the cookie she had in her hands, “It was quite the adventure, there is no denying that for certain.”
Ever since the day the True Brothers began their attack on Ishgard and took the refugees of the burnings in the Brume as hostages, the same day that Maelie was dropped from the top of the Vault and Katsum jumped after her only for both of them to be saved by Vidofnir, they had been good friends ever since, especially as Maelie began to have a fascination with the Dravanians. And who better to answer any questions she might have than the ‘Queen of Dragons’ herself. Katsum grew fond of the young girl and told her as many stories and tales that she could remember in hopes to share the beauties she’d seen of the world to another who could scarcely even have dreamed of seeing such things not so long ago. Each time she came home to Ishgard from a journey, she would seek out Maelie or the young girl would find her and they would walk the city’s streets as they talked, waving hello to all they passed by and marveling at how bright and cheerful the city had become since the end of its long war. There was still much to be done to make the nation whole again, the progress so far was still so beautiful.
The dragonet in Maelie’s arms purred as it butted its head against her hand, as she scratched its scales, “You’ve seen so many amazing things, Katsum. I would love to see the Churning Mists one day, and the vast and endless seas of water, but I imagine not all things were so beautiful and good…”
Katsum chuckled softly, “You are a smart girl, Maelie. Always have been. Yes, it’s true, but,” She looked at her seriously, “Don’t let that stop you from going to find your adventures. There are far more precious and wonderful things out there to outweigh the bad.”
Maelie nodded, “Right!”
“And next time Vidofnir, you should ask her if she can show you the Mists, I am sure she would be happy to.”
“Really?! Oh yes, I certainly shall! Ah, I’m so excited just thinking about it!”
Katsum laughed at the giddiness of the young girl as it reminded her very much of her younger self which only made her smile more brightly. They soon made their way to the aetheryte plaza in Foundation, still talking and laughing as the snow fell softly around him. Katsum’s feline ear twitched at the sound of a very familiar voice speaking not far away and she turned her sapphire eyes to lock onto the royal blue regalia of the Lord Commander, and a warmth fluttered through her chest as she smiled brighter. Sure, she had seen Aymeric this morning and every morning since they were married, but that didn’t mean her heart ever stopped fluttering when she would see him. As they approached him and Lucia, who was standing behind him, she noticed that he was speaking to a Lalafellan man and young woman, who were both dressed in fine robes and furs of an Ul’dahian fashion. Curiosity swept over her as she and Maelie moved in closer.
“Ah, good morning Lord Aymeric and Lady Lucia,” Katsum mused sweetly as she smiled brightly at them, her tail swaying happily behind her.
Aymeric’s ice blue eyes warmly met hers as he too smiled, “Lady Katsum, there you are good morning. And a good morning to you as well Maelie, Midgardsormr.”
The little dragon just nodded slightly as he continued to munch on his piece of cookie while Maelie nodded her hello.”
The paladin woman turned her head in question a bit, “Were you looking for me? Is something wrong?”
“No, not at all, but I was about to search for you yes. You see—”
“I can explain myself from here, Lord Aymeric, if you’d like,” The Lalafellan man rudely interrupted her beloved as he stepped forward with a grinning smile on his muschasted face, making a sweeping bow before her, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Katsum. My name is Aguda Kesuguda, head of the stock and trade of Kesugu Industries of Ul’dah. Before I begin, I really must commend your undeniable strength and poweress on the battlefield. I’ve heard many tales, and while I have not seen them for myself, they never cease to send my heart aflutter to recall them, yes yes!”
The miqo’te narrowed her eyes slightly as her smile shrunk into a rather small and fake expression of kindness, shifting her posture into a more regal and defensive stance; the posture of a queen. This did not go unnoticed by Maelie as she took a step back and watched cautiously. Aymeric too noticed, yet he didn’t not say anything, only sighed at the interruption and eyed the noble.
“Yes, I believe I’ve heard your name mentioned before in brief passing. ‘Tis a pleasure, yes, yet what is it that you sought me out for?” She knew that pleasantries from a merchant of Ul’dah meant only one thing: they wanted something done for them. She had not the patience or care for such games either.
Aguda grinned and shrugged, “Ah yes, a woman of action, of course. Forgive me, it is but the habit of nobles to win over the other with flattery, but you and yours here I see are far too smart to play in such nonsense.” Katsum just stared at him and he cleared his throat, “…more so than I thought too. Ahem, I came to beseech you aid in a most urgent matter. I have a shipment of resources and supplies I am trying to transport to the warfront, and every time it begins to leave on its journey to Ala Mhigo, it has been attacked by bandits trying to steal its contents! It’s not been anything terribly dangerous of course, but I wondered if I could ask for your assistance in protecting it to its destination. Or rather, one of your dragons.”
The group stilled and Katsum’s eyebrows arched in confusion, “ I beg your pardon? And please do not repeat yourself, it is just an expression of my astonishment.”
The noble nodded, “Of course, of course. My reasoning for such a request is that while I could hire a group of mercenaries to protect the cargo, such beings can be unsavory themselves and cost right much gil you understand. But dragons are loyal and ask for nothing, with just a word from you and they fly to your beck and call. And what better way to show your power as a queen than having one of your subjects deliver rations and supplies to the soldiers and people of a wounded nation, hmm?”
There would have been a time that Katsum would have shouted at this man that he knew nothing of dragons and nothing of her throne, and to leave their city before she threw him out herself, but instead, she remained quiet and listened to his greedy words with that simple expression of thought on her face.
Aguda seemed to take that bait as a sign of winning her over as he continued, “So, what do you think? Could you spare a dragon to help out a poor old merchant deliver his wares to those in need?”
She saw Aymeric narrow his eyes, “Would they not appear to be supplies from Katsum herself then if a Dravanian were to be protecting them rather than from you yourself Lord Aguda?”
Aymeric had already caught on Katsum knew, and luckily he was laying out the road for Katsum to ride down as Aguda answered.
“I suppose they would, but I have little worry for that. As long as they get the resources they are due, yes? Plus, they would be packed in crates bearing my seal so a bit of publicity for everyone, hmm?”
It is a very interesting suggestion, my lord, but first I must ask,” Katsum clasped her hands in front of her as she asked, “Are these provisions truly yours?”
Aguda froze in that moment and her eyes sparkled silently; she had him, “Whatever do you mean by that, my lady?”
Katsum smiled to herself as she feigned a curious and oblivious expression, “Pray, forgive me for causing such upset, but I had heard the most awful rumor of stolen goods and provisions meant for refugees of Ul’dah recently, and even more unsettling takes of the people trying to take them back from the thieves only to be injured and then arrested on false charges. As some of those provisions were ones that Ishgard and Dravania both had traded with Ul’dah for such purposes of aiding those less fortunate, it seemed only right that the Sultana inform me of these most dreadful events. So again…I ask you,” Katsum’s expression narrowed and her eyes almost seemed to glow in her fury, “Are these provisions truly yours? And I would beseech you to speak the truth, good sir, for we shall know if you do not.”
The noble’s jaw dropped as she moved her first piece into the winning square. Indeed, she and Nanamo had been speaking on the subject just a day or so ago and how the Sultana was worried about how restless the people were getting at being wronged so, and Katsum had offered to keep an eye out. It had been her cargo originally anyway, and such fine Dravanian resources should not fall into hands they were not meant for.
Aguda finally got over his shock and glared at her then, “Uh! The audacity of such claims! I came to seek assistance, not to be blamed for such villainy!”
“Nay, you came here for a dragon —for a “free” guard as you said—that would discourage anyone wearing only tattered rags for clothing too afraid to step forward to take back what is rightfully theirs so that you could spread the name of influence into the city of Ala Mhigo, thus earning potential buyers for future trade. it was made plain the moment you spoke of dragons ‘asking for nothing’. Dragons are loyal to their kin and to those they have come to trust, yes, but if you truly believe they are so blind to follow mine or anyone else’s word and ask for nothing in return like a hound, you are far blinder than you believe them to be.” His jaw dropped again, yet she did not wait for him to answer as she pressed further, “Now, if that is all you wished to discuss, I suggest you take your leave of our city and see to the return of those goods to their rightful owners. Unless…you would like me to inform the Sultana of the information I have just come across and let her and the Brass Blades handle it..?”
Aguda’s face paled, and he tried to retain some of his noblistic confidence, “Why you—”
“Father, please!” Finally, the woman behind him spoke and stepped forward to stand in front of him with a deep look of concern on her face, “She offers you a way to fix it yourself, don’t throw it away with your shame of being caught! I told you you mustn’t do something like this and look where you’ve put us now!” His head dropped as the girl turned to Katsum and bowed her head, a look of sadness filling her eyes as she looked up at her, “I’m so sorry. I had no idea that he had gone through such lengths as this. Please, forgive us, and I will see to it that the supplies are returned to Ul’dah and given out to the less fortunate personally. Please, my lady.”
Katsum stared at her for a moment, looking her over and her lilac colored garments and grey furs. Her eyes showed sincerity yes, but the eyes can be made to fool anyone who looked into them. She glanced at Midgardsormr, seeing he too was staring at her closely, taking in his assessment. With a breath, Katsum summoned Raihogg’s gaze as the dragon’s eye gem began to glow softly and his voice whispered through her mind.
“Her words are genuine as her heart is broken by her father’s deeds. You may believe her as she indeeds to do just as she says.”
The eye in her necklace fades back to its shining red and blue color as Katsum’s eyes softened and she asked the girl, “What is your name, my lady?”
“Kemoda. Kemoda Kesugada, m-my lady.” Her voice trembled as she answered.
Katsum smiled, “There is no reason to fear, Miss Kemoda. I thank you for your honesty and in your offer to right what has been wronged. In return for the good being returned to their rightful owners, I will only speak of the matter being closed with her Grace, nothing more. No names, no suspects. But I will be checking in to be sure our goods were returned as promised.”
Kemoda nodded furiously, bowing low as she breathed, “Oh thank you, my lady! Thank you! You have my word, I shall fix this right away!”
The miqo’te nodded and the lalafellan woman turned and glared softly at her father amidst her worried expression, “Come father, we have much to work on.” With that, she started on her way towards the gates of Ishgard with a determined step in her stride.
Aguda glanced back at her for a moment before looking up at Katsum again and glaring at her, hoping to get in one final word she guessed.
But Midgardsormr hissed first, “Go now, mortal, while I still allow it.”
The deep voice of the ancient dragon seemed to be enough to send the lalafellan man running after his daughter, any thoughts of sassy retorts dying on the squeak of his shout of terror. Midgardsormr chuckled at this before going back to snacking on his cookie and Katsum took a deep breath and shook her head.
“I will never get used to politics and the games you must play,” She sighed.
“No one ever does I’d imagine,” Aymeric mused, stepping up to. her and leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead, “But I dare say you are getting better at playing them. Well done, my queen.”
Katsum blushed lightly as her ears fell back shyly, though her warm smile spoke of her happiness, “Not in front of the child, Aymeric, please.”
He chuckled, and they glanced over to both blink in shock at the wondrous look in Maelie’s eyes as she watched them and she hugged the dragonet tight. She blinked as they looked, “Sorry, I don’t mean to stare, you both are just like a fairytale come true. ‘Tis a love I hope I find one day too.”
Katsum blushed again as Aymeric did and they laughed lightly as Katsum nodded, “I never thought I would have it myself, but thank you, Maelie. That is very sweet of you.”
The girl nodded before Lucia stepped forward then, “Regretful as I am to cut this beautiful moment short, there are other matter that require attention, Lord Commander.”
Aymeric sighed and nodded, looking to Katsum as he drew her into a short yet loving kiss, “Thank you for your assistance, Queen of Dragons. I shall be sure to repay your kindness as soon as I can.”
Katsum grinned knowingly, “And I shall look forward to it. Until tonight, be safe, both of you. And farewell.”
The Lord Commander nodded warmly as he reluctantly pulled back from her and turned to follow the First Commander back to Congregation. katsum watched him go before she turned to Maelie with a grin, “Well, shall we continue our walk?”
“Yes! Or course! Oh, I wanted to ask. How did the Dravanians first come to this world? You mentioned they were from another star right?”
“They did indeed. We’ll be happy to tell you.”
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the-dragons-knight · 4 years ago
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FFXIV Write Masterlist for 2020
This year was awesome for the amount of writing I did. I may not have gotten all 30 days as some of the prompts stumped me and work killed me here and there, but I definitely got some awesome things written. Headcanons I’ve had for years of Katsum’s story through Eorzea and her relationship with Aymeric ^^ <3. I love this challenge event so very much. I can’t wait for next year though I think I may try to may my own list and write some for Woltober too! The inspiration continues for both my writing and been wanting to draw again too! Yay!
As always, thank you @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast​ for hosting this amazing event!
And now, without further ado, here are the pieces I wrote for this year. Thank you for browsing and enjoy!
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♥ - I loved writing this one! ⚠ - Spoilers possible for MSQ
Prompt #1) ‘Crux’ - Turning the Tides Prompt #2) ‘Sway’ - May I have this Dance? ♥ Prompt #3) ‘Muster’ - Finding the Strength Prompt #4) ‘Clinch’ - An Unexpected Victory   ⚠ Prompt #5) ‘Matter of Fact’ - Voice of the Flesh ♥ (Slight Suggestive) Prompt #6) ‘Free Day(Rest)’ - Much Needed Sleep  ⚠
Prompt #8) ‘Clamor’ - The Path I Walk  ⚠ ⚠ Prompt #9) ‘Lush’ - Hurt to Heal  ♥ ♥ ⚠ Prompt #10) ‘Avail’ - By My Blood  ⚠ ⚠ ⚠ Prompt #12) ‘Tooth & Nail’ - Together Again
Prompt #14) ‘Part’ - Until Next We Meet  ♥ Prompt #15) ‘Ache’ - Safe  ♥ Prompt #16) ‘Lucubration’ - A Sleepy Knight  ♥ Prompt #17) ‘Fade’ - Fighting Against the Odds  ⚠ ⚠ ⚠ Prompt #18) ‘Where the Heart Is’ - Come With me on An Adventure   ⚠
Prompt #21) ‘Foibles’ - Not a Bother Prompt #22 & 23) ‘Argy-Bargy & Shuffle’ - Teaching the Young Prompt #24) ‘Beam’ - Across the Room  ♥ Prompt #25) ‘Wish’ - Confession of the Young Queen
20/30
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the-dragons-knight · 5 years ago
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Prompt #23: Well Played
Entry number twenty three for the FFXIV Write Challenge by @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast.
Prompt: “Parched”
Rating: PG-13
Relations: Aymeric de Borel X Warrior of Light (Katsum Almor)
Warnings: Mature content implied, Takes place after the main story of Heavensward and Stormblood, but no story spoilers to note
Katsum knows that Aymeric is far too kind of his own good. So sometimes, she must make sure he is taking care of himself.
- - - - - - - - - -
Katsum rapped her fist against the door and pressed her ear against it, listening for his response.
“Who knocks?” By the tone of Aymeric’s voice, she could tell he was tired. She knew him well enough that he probably had not eaten or drunk anything in his effort to get his work done, which was why she had come prepared.
She did her best to mask her voice to sound like someone else as she replied, “I’ve brought your tea, my lord.”
Silence followed for a few moments, and then he answered, “Enter.”
Katsum smiled and pushed open the door with her hip, carrying in the tea tray with her as she stepped into his office, “Hello, love.”
His eyes brightened when he saw her and he smiled with relief, “Katsum, my love, I was not expecting you. I thought something was amiss as I knew I had no sent anyone to bring my tea. Still, what a most pleasant surprise. Especially today.”
She pushed the door closed behind her and stepped over to the desk, placing the tea tray down gently, “I can imagine I am. I saw the group of nobles leaving as I entered.”
By Aymeric’s expression, she could tell just what kind of meeting it had been.
“By the Fury...if I have to listen to those men argue another moment today...” He set down his quil and covered his face with his hands, “I shall probably have a headache by the evening just enduring their fighting.”
“Hmm, I could always handle it if you’d like,” Katsum spoke nonchalantly as she poured the brew into the tea cup, adding a bit of birch syrup to the mix.
“If it did not result in Draco trying to burn someone, I would say please, but I know better than that now,” He chuckled.
“You make your drake burn one noble’s hat and then you get a reputation. What is this world coming to?” Katsum mused innocently, dropping a few sugar cubes in and stirring up the tea. She smiled sweetly when Aymeric raised his eyebrows at her, “On come now, he had it coming. And so will these nobles if they keep my too kind-hearted husband from eating or drinking anything. Am I correct to assume that you skipped breakfast and lunch today?”
She picked up the tea cup and the Sohm Al Tart, and stepped around the desk to stand beside him, placing both in front of him, and he happily reached for them.
“Yes, you have caught me. I did skip through them to listen to their drawl...so yes, I am quite parched...and famished.” He took the cup and took a sip, humming happily as he sat back with his eyes closed, “Thank you, Kat. That is delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it. I figured you could use something sweet after a long morning,” She paused, and then looked at him with a twinkle in her eye, “May I offer you a bit more sugar, love?”
He opened his eyes and looked at her, narrowing his gaze playfully as he smiled, “Please do.”
She moved around to stand behind him, reaching between him and his chair as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed close to him, leaning down to press a kiss to his cheek. He sighed again, setting down the cup to lean into her and let her do as she pleased. Katsum grinned and turned his face to reach his lips, locking them in a passionate kiss as she moved her hands. She massaged his shoulders and arms, feeling his toned muscles she knew so well hiding under his regalia. She noticed his grip on the chair tightened, his knuckles turning a bit white and his kisses became more passionate, pressing into her mouth more fervently.
“Rather eager, aren’t we?” She whispered as she pulled away, keeping her voice down in case someone was walking by outside.
“I am always eager when it comes to you, my dear,” He slumped back against the chair, leaning towards her with pleading eyes, “Please, kiss me again.”
Katsum smiled innocently, “I thought you had more important meetings to attend to today?”
His eyes darkened as he tried to stand, but she moved and grabbed his wrists and held him still. Of course she had far more strength than he, but it was not often that she used it in a more dominant fashion. This time, however, she felt inclined to take control and she could tell by his reaction that Aymeric was not opposed. The Miqo’te woman’s tail swiped around playfully as she moved close to purr in his ear,
“I will make a deal with you, my sweet Aymeric,” She placed a warm, loving kiss against his neck just under his jaw, and he breathed heavily trying not to groan, “Tell the nobles that spend more time arguing than getting things done to either figure things out or go home. I’ll not have them wasting my husband’s time anymore. Not when it’s time we could be spending together. Because you are not the only one who’s...parched, my love~.” She kissed his neck again, swiping her tongue under his jaw, forcing the groan from his throat.
“Must you tease me?” He panted, looking over at her with the same pleading expression.
“Only because you force my hand, love. Now if you tell them this, then this evening,” She leaned in as close as she breathed on the fancy earring of ice blue, “I am yours.”
He laughed sweetly, “Are you not mine every evening?”
“Of course I am, just as you are mine, but now you shall be thinking about it all day until the evening comes. Won’t you?” She sweetly kissed his cheek and let go of his wrists, moving to step away from him.
Before she could get to far, he caught her by the waist and spun her to face him, pulling her into his lap and holding her there as he pressed his nose to hers, “And you think you may get away with teasing me so? The evening is hours away, and you cannot expect to wait so long, my love. ‘Twould be so cruel of you.”
She giggled, running her hands down his sides as he tightened his hold on her, “You will survive, my dear, I promise.”
He started to growl something to her, but the sound of agitated voices down the hall coming towards the office made Katsum’s ears perk up and she looked back. Aymeric groaned sadly and let her go, helping her stand again beside him.
“Thank you for the tea and the tart, Katsum. I am very thankful for it, and for you,” He squeezed her hand slightly, speaking the other things we wanted to say to her.
She nodded, “Anything for my beloved knight.” She leaned down and pressed a kiss to his lips softly, pulling back as she heard the door open and the group of bickering nobles entered. They bowed when they saw her and she returned it, moving to step away from the desk, but Aymeric tugged her back.
Confused, Katsum turned back to look at him as he faced the nobles, sitting up straight, “My lords, if it pleases you, I would have Lady Katsum listen to our meeting to just us a fresh look on the situation. It may help come to an agreement more quickly.”
He squeezed her hand again, intertwining their fingers.
The nobles looked at each other and then nodded, one speaking and saying, “Of course. If Lady Borel can help this argument come to a close, I for one welcome it. I grow tired of this bickering myself...”
Ah, now she saw the game. She sighed quietly and forced a noble lady’s smile on her face as she curtsied, “It would be my pleasure to help where I can.”
“You have my thanks, my lady,” Aymeric replied, a most satisfied smile on his face as he patted her hand before letting go, “Now, gentlemen, where were we?”
As the men began talking again, Katsum kept glancing at Aymeric, seeing him peek over and his eyes flash with humor. They seemed to say if he would be made to pine after her all day, then she would be sitting here enduring the waiting with him.
Well played, Aymeric. Well played.
She whispered under her breath so that only he could hear as the noble shouted loudly at each other, “I shall deal with you later, my lord.”
He replied, sweetly caressing her hand, “And I look forward to dealing with you as well, my kitten.”
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the-dragons-knight · 5 years ago
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Prompt # 11: Another Late Night
Entry eleven for the FFXIV Write 2019 hosted by @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast.
(Don’t worry @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast, I could only think of a candle when I saw the prompt X3 pat pat <3)
Prompt: “Snuff” - like putting out a candle X3
Rating: PG-13 for mentioning alcohol
Relations: Aymeric de Borel X WoL OC(Katsum Almor)
Warnings: Mentions of some drinking, set in Post-Heavensward content but no spoilers mentioned.
Another late night where Katsum must save Aymeric from his work and himself.
- - - - - - - - - -
“Aymeric?”
At the sound of her soft voice, he looked up from the document he was reading and Katsum’s heart dropped at the sight of him. Accented by the pale light of the candles beside him, he looked nothing like the Lord Commander she knew. His hair was messy, like he’d run his hands through it in frustration, giving him a very wild and untamed look. His hand holding the quill gripped it far more tightly than he should and what handwriting she could see was rushed and shaky at best. His eyes screamed at how tired and exhausted he was, the dark rings under his eyes giving away how little sleep he’d gotten lately. He appeared to be but a shell of the man she knew and loved right now, just barely staying awake and barely functioning.
The Miqo’te woman sighed and stepped into the study, pushing past the door and moving up to the desk, “My love, why are you still here in the study? Are you not coming to bed?”
The Elezen sighed and looked back down, going back to his writing with squinted eyes, “I did go and sleep for a while. I got up after a few hours. I must finish this report first before I may get more sleep.”
“Aymeric, you are exhausted.”
By his strained expression and the thin line his lips made, she knew he was not feeling like himself. She narrowed her eyes and set her own candlelabera down on the opposite side of the desk away form the documents and moved around the table to his side.
“If you do not get some sleep, you will pass out.”
“Yes, I am aware, but this must be finished first.”
“It will be here in the morning, love.”
“I want to finish it now.”
“Aymeric-”
“Katsum, leave me be!”
There was silence after that. His narrowed expression looking up at her startled her slightly and he turned back to the document before she could answer. Now it was her turn to have a thin line across her lips, her tail twitching in annoyance. There were very few times that he had ever raised his voice at her, so few that she could count them all on one hand. At first, she thought that he meant the things he said when he shouted at her, but now she knew different. It was then the twinkling of the glass in the candlelight caught her eye and she noticed the few drops of wine left at the bottom of it. Now, she understood completely. Yes, she knew better now, and it’s why she did the opposite of what he asked.
First, Katsum reach over and plucked the quill from his grasp, causing him to look up angrily and start to speak. She moved quickly around behind his chair, pulling him and it back with the very strength she felled primals with, pulling him away form the desk where he could no longer reach the parchments. Katsum then moved between him and the desk and tidied up the papers and stacked them together, setting them back into his book and closing it and setting the quill back into the ink well. Finally, she reached out and blew out the candles on his candlelabera.
“Katsum,” His voice was dark and angry, yet she turned to him with no fearful expression, even as he stood and towered over her, backing her against the desk and trapping her between his arms. It saddened her to see his sapphire blue eyes filled with such rage at something so trivial, the alcohol lightly effecting his mood as well. He leaned close to her face and growled, “I was not finished.”
   “You are for tonight. You may finish the rest tomorrow after a full night’s rest.”
   “Katsu-”
   “Aymeric de Borel, do not test me,” Katsum reached up and cup his face, caressing his cheekbone with her thumb as her ears fell back sadly, “You are exhausted. Even now you are about to faint. The city can wait until morning, I promise you, and if they can’t, they will have me to deal with come dawn.”
Even as small as she was, he knew better normally than to not press her when she spoke as she did now. It seemed to reach him now as well as she saw the fiery rage leaving his eyes as it was replaced with tiredness and regret. He looked down from her, unable to meet her gaze now as he reached up and held her hand against his face, the fingers of an overworked official intertwining with battle-calloused ones.
“Forgive me, my sweet Kat. I don’t know what came over me...”
She sighed sadly, pulling him down to kiss his cheek.
“You are tired, love. And you have every right to be. So let us go and get some sleep now, alright?” She felt him nod slowly, feeling his exhaustion taking effect. She let go of his face and took the hand he held instead and gently tugged him around the desk towards the door. He followed her with no complaints, letting her pull him to where she left her candelabra, picked it up and lit their way to the door and out of the study. She stopped only to close the door behind them, then moved into his side and took his am as she led him down the hall back up to their room.
“Thank you for saving me, my lady,” Oh how sleepy he sounded as he spoke through smiling lips, leaning against her as they walked, “I am sorry for yelling at you as well...”
Katsum holding the candles higher to light the path through the dark hallway, “It’s alright. I know you did not mean anything by it, dear. I will still be having talk with the nobles that gave you such a task so late into the night however.”
“Do not hurt anyone.”
“I won’t. I won’t. But I’ll make sure it’s harder for them to sleep.”
He laughed, stumbling a little on his feet, “Kaaat.”
“Alright, alright. I will only firmly advise them against doing it in the future. I promise.”
He kissed her hand, “I love you, my dear Katsum.”
“And I love you, my overworked, dearest Aymeric.”
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the-dragons-knight · 3 years ago
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FFXIV Write 2021
Prompt #23 - All Of the Same Flame
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<Post Shadowbringers MSQ, possible Spoilers>
Soul - ‘the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal’
————————————————————
“How many others have you met d’you think?”
Katsum tore her eyes away from the missive she was writing to look at the ghostly shimmering form of Ardbert standing at the end of the desk she sat at with his arms crossed, a rather curious and thoughtful expression on his features.
“Others?” She asked, glancing only for a second as a company of soldiers marched past on their rounds. Thank goodness Midgardsormr was sleeping nearby so it didn't appear she was speaking to herself. The last thing she’d want is for rumors to start of the Lord Commander’s sweetheart losing her senses on the war front.
Ardbert was taken aback for a moment, scratching the back of his head suddenly as he laughed sheepishly, “Said that out loud, didn’t I? Sorry. What I meant was…how many others like me have you met do you think? If any. Other parts of the same soul fragments I suppose.”
Katsum pondered this for a moment, “I was sure I had not met any before we learned the truth of it, but now that we have, I believe I have met a fair few. Some more closely than others.”
Ardbert seemed surprised at this before he seemed to realize something and shrugged, “Ah, well will your dragon companions that hail from another star entirely, and with the pixie friend, I suppose that is rather less challenging than it would be for most.”
Katsum nodded, “The Echo is to blame for a few of those meetings too. I never knew it could connect those of the same soul before it did, yet I saw into another’s life and she saw me in the same moment. And we were able to speak freely, can you believe it? Just as we are conversing now, we talked and learned about one another. It was fascinating.”
Ardbert chuckled, “Leave it to you to learn all the secrets that alluded the rest of us gifted folk.”
“Oh come now, don’t pout,” Katsum retorted, smiling warmly, “Wouldn’t have gotten here had a certain ghostly friend of mine now pushed me to keep going.”
“Aye, that’s true.” He shook his head with a laugh, glancing about them at the Alliance’s army camp, watching the soldiers of all nations running to and fro as they ensured they were ready for battle, “Kept you going to fight another day.”
The miqo’te nodded as she returned to her letter, “Indeed you did.”
“Katsum, t’would seem our sources are moving quickly,” Both Katsum and Ardbert looked up into the lavender-colored gaze of the woman who now stood at the other end of the table. Her long, platinum blood hair was pulled back in braids that decorated her head, a few strands left loose to frame her pale skinned face. She wore a thick, dark colored tunic that was accented with small dragon scales on the shoulders of the tunic. Long sleeves covered her arms and a pair of gloves protected her hands from the slight chill. She also wore a thick skirt which was just an inch longer than the tunic itself, both covering over her dark leather boots. Finally, on the right side of her breast plate of her tunic, she wore a silver brooch made up of three dragon heads.
The blonde miqo’te smiled and sat up straight, bowing her head slightly to the woman as she smiled thankfully, “Really? What have they told you?”
The woman grinned with her, “That they are closing in on a secreted base as we speak. I’ve already dispatched a few riders to lay siege to it, and they have taken wing.”
“Wonderful, and thank you. I would have done the very same.”
“I thought you might,” She nodded, “I shall be sure to let you know anything else I learn.”
Katsum bowed her head thankfully, “You have my thanks, Dany. Do let me know if there is anything I can assist with as well.”
Dany nodded and took her leave, disappearing as quickly as she’d appeared.
“Wait was…” She glanced at Ardbert, the ghost himself looking as if he had seen well…a ghost, “Was that another of…of our…”
“I hate to call it “shards”, but yes. Though Daenerys came to join us quite a bit differently than you and I did. And in truth, she still lives.”
“Does she. Ahh, I see then. So that big, black dragon, the one that doesn’t speak like the others, that’s…?”
Katsum nodded, “Yes, that's her dragon.”
“How did she come to this world? I remember you talking about the dragon on the horizon, but what’s the full story?”
Katsum gestured to the missive before her, “Give me but a few moments to finish this and I’ll be glad to tell you. ‘Tis not everyday you mean another ‘Dragon Queen’ from another world afterall.”
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the-dragons-knight · 5 years ago
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Prompt #24: Unwanted Attention
Entry number twenty four for the FFXIV Write Challenge by @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast.
Prompt: “Unctuous”
Rating: PG
Relations: Aymeric de Borel X WoL(Katsum Almor) mentioned
Warnings: Shadowbringers spoilers
Never test the loyalty of Katsum to Aymeric, for this married woman does not play around.
- - - - - - - - - -
“Well, it is certainly good to hear that all is going well here on the First,” Katsum smiled and sat back in her chair, looking around at the rest of the Scions. They all sat in the Crystarium cafe, gathered around a table enjoying a meal and drinks, “It seems like it has been forever since the last time we have had the time to all sit together and just talk.”
“Indeed,” Thancred swirled his mug around and smirked, “For some of us, it has been even longer than that.” Katsum rolled her eyes at him as he lifted the mug to have another sip.
Alphinaud thought for a moment, “Come to think of it, when was the last time we all gathered together like this?”
“A good point actually. Perhaps the alliance meeting when Doma first joined the Eorzean discussions? Even then, Urianger was not in attendance,” Alisaie pondered.
“You surprise me. You truly do not remember?” Y’shtola smiled, “I remember perfectly when the last time was, and I shall never forget it.”
“When?”
“It was Katsum and Ser Aymeric’s wedding of course.”
At the mention of the day, Kat’s ears fell back bashfully, looking down in her cup as she smiled.
“I remember that day mine self,” Urianger nodded, looking at Katsum, “You and Ser Aymeric looked so very happy that day. ‘Tis the first time I think I have ever thou smile as broadly as you did that day.”
A light dusting of a blush covered the Miqo’te paladin’s cheeks as she nodded, “I often think of that day, and just how wonderful it all was.”
“I know I myself have never seen a wedding, but I have read about them,” Ryne spoke up, “Oh but I wish I could have seen yours, Katsum. You must have looked beautiful in your wedding dress.”
“She surely was,” Midgarsormr appeared on Katsum’s shoulder, munching on a sweet tart he’d grabbed off of the table, “No daughter of man has ever looked so brilliant.”
“Midgardsomr, of all the times that you compliment me, must it be this?”
The little Father of Dragons nodded sassily, “I am only stating facts.”
“Excuse me, my lady,” Katsum turned to see a young Elezen, or Elven she guessed being they were on the first, waiter standing behind her. SHe noticed she was fidgeting, like she was nervous which caught the woman’s attention, “Begging your pardon, miss. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Oh, not at all. What can I do for you?”
“The gentlemen over there had me bring this to you,” She set down a tall glass in front of Katsum that was filled with a reddish colored liquid that immediately spoke of alcohol. She justed it was a kind of wine judging by the glass, and her eyes narrowed. “They also wished for me to give you this,” She held out a single red viola with a shaking hand and Katsum took it with a sigh, smiling at the girl to try and calm her nerves.
“Thank you, dear. Can you tell which “gentlemen” it was that sent you over here?” The girl nodded and glanced back towards the main bar. Katsum followed her eyes to see two men, a Hyur(Human) and a Miqo’te(Mystel) grinning over at her with a twinkle in their eyes that she knew very well. Katsum frowned and looked back at the girl, “I am sorry you were made to bring over these things in such an awkward situation.”
She noticed the girl sighed and slumped her shoulders, “Oh, I thought you’d be angry with me. Most ladies are when I have to do these things.”
Katsum shook her head, “No, not at all, dear. You are the poor messenger, not the writer itself. Thank you for bringing these things, though if they ask again, please tell them I said no thank you.”
The girl nodded and curtsied with a smile before turning back to her duties. Katsum turned back to the Scions and sighed, “Same ones, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Their aura is exactly the same as the last time we came up here,” Y’shtola grinned, “You have admirers.”
“I always seem to,” Katsum groaned, “Though I am unsure for what. My strength, my good relations, or my money.”
“Because it couldn’t possibly be because of your looks,” Alisaie teased, shaking her head, “You are so humble it hurts sometimes.”
Katsum shrugged and smiled.
“Incoming,” Thancred whispered, and Katsum’s hair stood on end as she heard their footsteps.
“Good evening, Lady Warrior of Dark-”
“Do not call me that,” With her stoic expression returned, her gaze narrowed as she turned in her chair to the two men, “You may call me Warrior of the Night, but not ‘Darkness’, thank you. Or just call me Katsum as it is far easier to say.”
The Mystel man grinned and his ears twitched playfully, “Very well, good evening Katsum then. Did you enjoy the drink we sent over?”
She glanced at the untouched glass of wine and pushed it away from her with a finger, smiling up at them pointedly as she answered, “It was kind of you, but I am not one who enjoys to drink, thank you. I only will have a glass every once in a while with my husband.”
She heard Midgardsomr chuckle on her shoulder between the bites of tart he took. She had hoped this was dissway the two men and make them leave her, especially with the knowledge that she was married. However, only the Human man seemed to be deciding to step back. The Mystel man only leaned closer.
“Oh come now, one drink won’t hurt. I’m sure your husband wont mind a lovely lady like you having a drink and a nice evening.”
“I can assure you, he would.”
 “Well, he’s got good taste then. A strong woman like yourself doesn’t need saving from anyone or anything. And beautiful on top of that only makes you all the better.”
“Are you really flirting with a married woman?”
“What, its not like he’s here, is he?” He gestured at Thancred and Urianger, “Is he the one of those gentlemen there?”
Katsum glared at him, her ears flattened angrily, “No.”
“Is he here in the city?”
“No, he is back home.”
“Ahh, back home,” He grinned and leaned closer, “Then what’s the harm? What he won’t know wont hurt him? Come spend some time with us-”
“I would advise you to step away and leave before you regret it, sir.” Katsum spat, losing her patience. Any man who dared question her loyalty to Aymeric would suffer for it.
 “And..if I say no?” The man’s ears and tail twitch again playfully, thinking he was so clever. It was then that all of the Scions backed their chairs up in unison, Thancred pulling Ryne’s chair back with him as they moved away, taking what they wanted of their meals and drinks with them. The rest of the cafe had gone quiet as well, all looking at the exchange.
Katsum sighed and gently pushed her chair back and stood to her feet slowly. The man followed her, staying close like he was before, not listening to the warnings of his friend.
“I shall only say this one more time,” In an instant, Katsum grabbed the man by his collar and lifted him off of his feet despite the fact that he was a few inches taller than her. His playfulness instantly turned to fear as he stuttered, but Katsum interrupted him as she glared at him and whispered, “You are bothering me with your unctuous flirting and I am tell you to leave now, before you regret it.” Midgardsormr hissed from her should, lifting his wings and swiping his tail in agreement with his Miqo’te lady.
The man nodded profusely, “Alright! Alright! I get the picture! I’m sorry, just please let me go!”
She let him down, but his knees gave out and he fell into the other man who caught him. They both looked at Katsum fearfully before scurrying off and Katsum sat back down with a satisfied smile.
Y’shtola shook her head and laughed, pulling her chair back up, “What is it with these over confidentmen these days? First Magnai, and now those two...I must say, be happy you found a knight so handsome to wave in their faces that they may not have you.”
“Indeed,” Katsum mused, shaking her head, “Also, Midgardsormr, you don’t look as terrifying when you have a tart clutch in your claws, did you know that?”
“I care not. ‘Tis only sweets I care about right now.”
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the-dragons-knight · 5 years ago
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Prompt #19: The Weight of the Warrior
Entry number nineteen for the FFXIV Write Challenge by @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast. Another late one was not the best day in irl for me. I’m posting it now just to keep them in order and will submit it for the challenge on Sunday.
Prompt: “Radiant”
Rating: PG
Relations: Aymeric de Borel X WoL OC(Katsum Almor)
Warnings: Some Heavenward Spoilers mentioned
Aymeric is awoken in the middle of the night to find Katsum is not sleeping beside him and Midgardsormr is trying to get his attention.
- - - - - - - - - -
It was late into the night when Aymeric stirred, feeling an uncommon chill. He moved to reach over and pull Katsum into his chest to cuddle for warmth and bury his face in her hair and ears, yet he felt nothing but a cold, empty spot on the bed with his wife strangely missing. Confused as he knew that she was not out in a journey tonight, he opened his eyes and tried to look about him in the dimly lit room. It was then he felt the prodding on his arm and a voice speak out, “Ser Aymeric.”
He sat up and turned to see a little green dragon sitting on his hip, pushing on his arm with a very serious expression on his face.
He yawned, “Midgardsormr..? My apologies, I did not realize-”
“Please, son of Thordan, there is a more pressing matter,” The little dragon moved and gestured to the slightly open door to the bedroom. Now that he listened, he could hear a very faint, quiet voice coming from down the hall, “Please, Katsum has need of you.”
Aymeric was up in an instant, his tiredness gone in an instant as he threw on a robe and followed the sound of the voice with Midgardsormr clinging to his shoulder. He walked slow, finding the door to the study was cracked and that he could hear the faint sounds of Katsum’s crying coming from inside. He wasted no time to push open the door and enter. When he saw her, his heart broke.
She sat with her back turned to him, sitting on the floor in front of the windows that overlooked the garden, her coronet and her sword clutched tightly in her hands. She was almost curled in on herself, hunched over with her tail tucked tightly against her legs and her ears laid back against her head as she wept.  She had a blanket around her shoulders, but by the way Draco was sitting beside her looking at her like a sad dog trying to help his master, he guessed that it had been his and Midgardsomr’s doing and not Katsum’s herself.
In the dim light, she had the kind of radiance of a broken angel, the blanket creating her wings, the starlight lighting a pale halo in her blonde hair, and the crown and sword in her hands becoming her holy weapons of truth and justice. Of course she was always radiant in everything she did yet even here in a moment of sadness and despair, she still looked beautiful to him. He was entranced for a moment by such radiance until her cries broke him from his thoughts.
The Father of Dragons leap from his shoulder and floated over to her, landing on the floor beside her and looking up at her face from under her hair. He spoke in Dravanian which Aymeric could not understand, yet she did not respond. The Elezen man moved into the door and slowly stepped up to the small Miqo’te woman, “Kat?”
He noticed that she tensed and quieted, trying to calm herself and speak, “A-Aymeric...w-what are you doing u-up so late?”
He sighed and knelt down beside her, moving in close, “I was going to ask you the same thing. Though my first question is are you alright?”
She didn’t respond right away, and just looked down. He reached out to her and brushed the hair away from her face to see her eyes, but she turned her head away from him again.
“Katsum, look at me,” She slowly obeyed, looking over at him with tear-stained cheeks and red eyes. She looked as if she’d been crying for hours, which concerned him deeply as he cupped her face gently, “My sweetheart, please tell me what is wrong?”
Her face contorted again as fresh tears spilled over. She crawled into his arms, dropping her crown and sword as she buried her face in his shirt. Aymeric sat back and wrapped her in his arms as he set her on his lap. He draped the blanket over her shoulders and around to his own, leaning his head against hers as he whispered softly to her as she cried.
“It’s all my fault, Aymeric...it’s always been my fault...”
“What has, my love?”
“I couldn’t protect them when the kingdom was attacked...I didn’t stay to fight off the invaders...I left my people behind as I escaped...it’s all my fault that they’re gone…!” Katsum’s voice became a torrent of sobs and hiccups at that and Aymeric held her tightly, trying to help hold her together.
“My sweet, you know that is not true. And whatever voice that tells you any different is lying,” She buried her face in his neck and he rubbed her back to soothe her, “You did nothing wrong that night, my love. There is not a doubt in my mind about that.”
Draco moved and coiled himself around them, the sundrake laying his head on Katsum’s lap and looking up at her sadly. Midgardsormr sat on Draco’s head, watching her with as much concern as Aymeric felt. They stayed like this as she cried, shaking in Aymeric’s arms as he rocked them back and forth some as she struggled to breathe amidst the sobs. He whispered softly to her to help fight her raging emotions and give her comfort knowing that she was safe in his arms. After a little while, Katsum’s cries began to quiet and she clung to his night shirt as she lay against his chest.
Aymeric looked own at her and whispered, “You know...I know one thing that would not have happened if you had stayed that night,” She sniffled and looked up through her messy her to see he was smiling at her, “We may have never met if you had not come to Eorzea. And where would we be without our radiant knightess?”
She swallowed her tears and shook her head, “I don’t know...”
“Oh, I do. I may not know what the fate of the rest of Eorzea and Doma would be right now, but Ishgard would still be at war, if not half destroyed by Nidhogg’s wrath. We would still be under the tyranny of the church, distrust and hate running rampant in the streets, and I...I would still be the blind fool I was when we first met, thinking I had everything thought out and planned for a better future which was othing but a cruel lie…” He pressed a kiss to her hair, “And I wouldn’t be happily married either, and would not know the sweetness of your love and the warmth that you radiate.”
She didn’t respond, so he knew he hadn’t broken through just yet, but he was on the right track.
He cupped her face again, “You saved us, Kat. You saved us from sending our brothers and sisters to their graves in a senseless war, and from my tyrannical father who only dreamt of power. You saved me from my own naivety and my own doom, and I can never repay you enough for that. So anything wrong you may think you have done has no weight against the countless selfless acts of kindness and love for others that you have performed. It holds no weight at all.”
Her ears flattened and she nuzzled under his chin, a few stray tears falling.
Aymeric took a deep sigh, planting a kiss on her forehead lovingly, “You will never know just how much I love you, my sweet angel. My darling knightess who puts far too much pressure on herself.”
“You are one to talk...” She mumbled, and he chuckles, “I love you too...my charming prince...I don’t know what I would do without you…”
“Not get a very good night’s sleep I would think tonight, so how about we get back to bed and we can cuddle together and fight off this chill, hm?”
She nodded, pushing Draco’s head off of her legs and moving to stand, but he stopped her and lifted his bride into his arms and carried her out of the study with the two dragons following. Katsum laid her head against him, her arms encircled around his neck as she closed her eyes. Her ears twitched in tiredness, making Aymeric smile as he noticed it.
“Tired now?”
She nodded again, “Thank you for saving me tonight, Aymeric…”
“You are most welcome, my love. Even the Warrior of Light needs saving sometimes.”
He felt her almost doze off as they entered the bedroom and he carried her to her side of the bed and laid her down gently, watching her curl into the blankets as she shivered.
He discarded his robe and quickly moved over to his side and climbed in next to her, gathering her in his arms and holding her against him. Katsum snuggled in with her head under his chin, her arms folded against his chest as she intertwined their legs and wrapped her tail around them. The instant she settled, she was fast asleep, and Aymeric sighed, brushing a hand through her hair. Draco climbed up onto the bed and curled up at the foot of it, breathing in a deep breath to heat up his belly to bring them more warmth as Midgardsormr closed the bedroom and returned to his basket to watch from afar for the night.
He spoke quietly in Dravanian and Aymeric looked over, “If you don’t mind my asking, what did you say?”
“I said, ‘Sleep well, Lady of Dravania’.” He mused, moving to curled in on himself and sleep.
Aymeric agreed with him, kissing Katsum’s head again and whispering, “Sleep well, my queen of dragons.”
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the-dragons-knight · 5 years ago
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Prompt # 16: It Will Be Alright
Entry number sixteen for the FFXIV Write Challenge by @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast
Prompt: “Jitter”
Rating: PG
Relations: Aymeric de Borel X WoL OC(Katsum Almor)
Warnings: Stormblood MSQ spoilers, some Heavensward spoilers
The day has finally come to tell everyone the big news and Katsum is far more worried that she should be.
- - - - - - - - - -
   The Miqo’te woman took a very deep breath as they walked down the long hallway, hugging his arm closer to her and trying to keep her hands from shaking. She’d thought about this day a lot recently, but now that it was here, her heart was filled with panic. How strange it felt to be out of her armor and instead wearing a very fancy, red floor-length dress. They were still in the middle of a war after all. Now that the Garlean hold on Doma had been broken, she would be on her way soon to rally the forces of Gyr Albanian to gather and begin the siege for Ala Mhigo. For tonight though, she was a guest of honor, once again in House Fortemps in the shining city of Ishgard, celebrating the new found peace between man and dragon. How she had missed this place and the warmth it brought her.
A hand moved to cover hers and the motion made her jump as she looked up, breaking her from her train of thought as she looked up at her escort.
   Aymeric’s soft expression made her panic simmer, “You look radiant this evening.”
   Katsum felt her cheeks heat up and she quickly looked away bashfully, her ears falling back and her tail twitching nervously, “O-Oh, thank you.”
   “It is a kind of Far Eastern design, yes?”
She nodded, fidgeting with the pearled necklace that was attached to the dress, “Yes, it is. Tataru picked it out for me. She said it is the height of fashion right now in Kugane...and while I do not doubt her...” She felt the chill on her back where from the bottom of her shoulder blades the top of her hips, there was not cloth, “I am not so sure I like how much skin is showing...”
“Are you cold?” He held her hand more firmly as he asked, “Is that why you are shivering? It is rather chilly tonight.”
   She sighed, her previous thoughts returning, “Perhaps a little, but it is more of my concern for tonight that causes me to tremble...”
   She felt him turn his eyes to her, “You are worried?”
   “I am terrified, Aymeric.”
   His quiet chuckle caught her attention, “You have fought monsters, tyrants, dragons, and so many other things and barely flinched with a hint of worry.”
   “You didn’t see my worry, and that was the point. You can only see it now because you know me so well.”
   “I will agree to that. You were very hard to read when we first met. I rather liked trying to figure out what you were thinking.”
   “...You are trying to make me blush now, aren’t you?”
   He laughed, “Perhaps. I am also trying to help you relax a little,” Katsum sighed, yet he smiled still, caressed her hand with his thumb, “Is it really so terrifying?”
   “I am about to walk into a room full of people and tell them all I am going to be marrying their beloved Lord Commander. Of course I am terrified...” She looked up at him curiously, “Aren’t you afraid?”
   “After so many years of public speaking, I think I am far past being afraid of speaking in front of a crowd. If anything, I am excited to finally tell everyone about us. Aren’t you?”
   “Well, of course. I think it’s just buried under my worry…” He stopped abruptly and turned and she realized they were now standing before the door to the ballroom and she froze. She could hear the voices of the guests inside, the drone of the many voices all sounding like one voice filling the entire room and echoing out into the hall they stood in. Her body tensed up and her fingers gripped the sleeve of Aymeric’s coat tightly. Her heart pounded in her ears and for a moment, she can hear nothing but that roar.
   “Katsum,” Aymeric’s firm voice broke her from the trance and she looked over at him, probably looking like a terrified child by the way he sighed and turned to her, reached up to cup her face, “Tell me what you are worrying over and I shall do my best to ease your mind about it.”
“What if...what if they do not want us to be married because I am a foreigner? What if they insist that we do not get married…?”
   “Katsum, the people of Ishgard adore you. I have seen them stop and say hello to you as you pass by, smiling with such joy as the savior of their homes and loved ones takes even a moment to say hello back. If it is hate that you fear from them, then you are mistaken, my dear.” He leaned in close and whispered, “You are a beacon of light and hope to a world shrouded in suffering and darkness. You are far more kind-hearted than anyone would expect you to be with the strength of a hundred men and the greatest dragons. I know you still worry about what people will think as I know not how it felt to rule a kingdom and be judged by every move you made, but please, do not let your fear hinder you from your happiness. Our happiness together...if you will still have me?”
   Tears appeared in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks and she was not sure if they were tears of worry, of fear, or of love - perhaps all three - yet she let them fall all the same.
   “Of course I will. I would be a fool not to. I love you so much, Aymeric...” He smiled and wiped her tears with his thumb. She moved into his arms and he held her close, resting his chin on her head just between her ears as she buried her face in his chest.
   “It will be alright, my love. I will do all I can to make sure this evening goes well. That I promise and you can trust me with that responsibility, ok?”
   She pulled away from him and nodded, “Ok.”
   He lifted her hand and gave her knuckles a gentle kiss and he straightened himself and held out his arm again for her to take, “Alright then, shall we?”
   She took a deep breath, standing up straight and taking her regal stance and that she knew so well with the addition of a smile, “I’m ready. Let’s not keep them waiting any longer.”
- - - - - - - - - -
I wanted to write more for this as this is the first part of the storm I had for the day the told everyone that they were courting and also going to be getting married, but I will have to write that other part another time. :3
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the-dragons-knight · 5 years ago
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Prompt #21: Make Him Talk
Entry number twenty one  for the FFXIV Write Challenge by @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast.
Prompt: “Crunch”
Rating: PG
Relations: Aymeric de Borel X WoL OC(Katsum Almor)
Warnings: Stormblood content as this takes place in the war camp beside the Ghimlyt Dark. No spoilers to really note though
A captured Garlean knows something about Katsum’s people, yet no seems to be able to make him talk. She knows a way she can though.
- - - - - - - - - -
Katsum stood with her arms crossed, looking across at where the Garlean soldier was being held, her gaze narrowed, “Have you been able to get anything out of him?”
Aymeric stopped shuffling the maps around as he noticed she was no longer paying attention and leaned on the table instead, looking over with her and sighing, “No, he has said nothing. You would have been the first to know, love.” She felt his eyes turn to her as he stood up straight, “He has barely spoken his own name, let alone any information he might have.”
“He had that banner in his pocket. He knows something about my people.”
“And we will find out what he knows in due time.”
“How long will that take though?”
“Kat-”
“I need answers, Aymeric,” She turned and found him standing beside her next, taking her hands in his, “They could be out there, alive. I must know...I need to know. And they are alive, I will seek them out as we push back Garlemald and free them.”
He searched her eyes, trying to give her a gentle smile, “I cannot imagine how this must feel, but please give them some time. I am sure they will get something of him eventually.”
“Do you really believe that?”
Before he could answer, the interrogators stepped out of the tent and started towards the leader’s tent where they stood, very annoyed expressions on their faces.
“We shall see now,” He nodded to her as he moved back to the table to stand by the other Grand Company leaders that gathered. The two interrogators stopped before the table and Katsum watched them curiously.
Raubahn spoke first, “What have you learned?”
“Nothin’, sir,” The soldier replied, “He’s not breaking at all, won’t utter a word anymore.”
The other soldier hissed, “It’s because you keep asking the same stupid questions.”
He looked over at her, “You can’t just yell and scream at someone to talk-”
“That’s what you have to do sometimes to get the information! You’re to nice about-”
“ENOUGH,” The two quieted at Raubahn’s outburst, “You are relieved of your duties as interrogators. Return to your posts. Now.”
The soldiers quickly scurried away and Katsum frowned deeply.
Merylwyb sighed, “After that display, I am sure we appear to be nothing more than the savages they all believe us to be.”
Raubahn leaned on the table and sighed, “You have my apologizes, Katsum. I thought them better suited than that.”
The warrior of light shook her head, “It’s alright,” She stood up straight again and made her way around to the front of the table, “‘Tis probably only something i could do myself anyway.”
“So you mean to try and speak with him yourself?” Kan-e-senna asked.
The Miqo’te woman nodded, glancing around at all of them as she replied, “If I have the permission to, yes.”
“What is it you plan to do?” The leaders all looked at her in question, though Ayermic’s showed his concern too.
Katsum turned to see her Calvary Sundrake where he was lying across a rock, sleeping soundly as he baked in the sun, “I will make him talk.”
- - - - - - - - - - - -
The Garlean soldier sat before the leaders in front of the tent with two soldiers standing on either side of him. He looked around at all of them, smiling amusedly, “Well, this is interesting. Tired of not getting anything out of me?”
“You’ve been brought here to answer questions still,” Raubahn gruffly answered.
“Oh, the same two from before? Lovely two, always fighting amongst each other I couldn't even answer.”
“No, they will not be asking the questions,” Raubahn gestured to Katsum, “She will.”
The Garlean turned and his eyes widened when it saw Katsum and the drake she had walking beside her.
“Oosh,” She said to Draco and he hissed, walking towards the soldier with his head low. The two alliance soldiers stepped back as Draco circled him, staring at him with his yellow eyes. He stayed at a distance, letting Katsum keep the closer circle as she stepped up to the man and bowed slightly, “Indeed, I, Katsum Almor, shall be asking you the questions now.”
“The W-Warrior of Eorzea...I thought you were supposed to be nothing but a grunt. A savage-”
“You believe just about anything you are told to believe then?”
He glared up at her and opened his mouth to spit back an insult, but Draco hissed and drew his attention.
“W-What...what is he here for..?” Katsum lifted a hand to calm the drake as she paced around the man herself.
“Simple,” She pulled the helmet from the soldiers head so that she could all see his face completely and tossed it to the drake who caught it in his jaws, “You tell me what I want to know, and he is but a harmless pet will all bark and no bite. But...if you refuse to speak with me or if you lie to me...” She looked at the drake, “Eehs.”
Draco stared into the Garlean’s eyes as him closed his jaws and crunch the helmet into pieces with minimal effort, spitting it out into the dirt and he hissed and stared at the man.
The expression of fear is all Katsum needed when it looked between her and the dragon, “W-Who are you?!”
She stopped in front of him, narrowing her gaze, “I told you. I am Katsum Almor, Warrior of Light and Defender of Eorzea...Lady of Dragons...and Queen of the Draic kingdom.”
His eyes widened when she said “Draic” and she knew she had him. She glanced at Aymeric and he looked at her firmly, as if to say ‘please stay calm.’ She nodded once, then continued.
“I was led to believe they had all been killed and then I found something in your pockets that tell me different. Now I am normally a very kind soul and would speak to you without trying to threaten you, but you have forced my hand, and I am very protective over my loved ones and my people. So tell me,” she pulled the banner front her pocket and holding it out to show the sigil of the crimson dragon, crown and shield, the symbol of her people, and leaned closer to him as she spoke lowly, “What do you know of my people...and where are they?”
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the-dragons-knight · 5 years ago
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Prompt #18: Until This Rose Wilts
Entry number eighteen for the FFXIV Write Challenge by @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast
Prompt: “Wilt”
Rating: PG-13
Relations: Aymeric de Borel X WoL OC(Katsum Almor)
Warnings: Some hints of mature content that isn’t spoken exactly but eludes to mature activities. Warning is there just in case.
There is one flower that Aymeric is not sure will grow in Ishgard, but he is determined to try for it is Katsum’s favorite.
- - - - - - - - - -
“Your garden has always looked so beautiful, Aymeric,” Katsum held back her hair as she leaned into smell a blue Viola, smiling brightly at the scent.
“I do my best to keep it in order and as vibrant as I can. It was my mother’s garden before she passed, so keeping it as lovely as she did is my way of remembering her.”
Katsum looked back to where he was standing next to the water fountain that stood in the middle of the green house, seeing him looking off in the distance. She swore she could almost see the memories dancing in his smiling eyes. The dark-haired Elezen turned and met her gaze, smiling as warmly as she was as he reached over and plucked a ice blue Oldrose from its stem and stepped up to her, “May I?”
She nodded and he fashioned it in her hair, “Do you have a favorite flower, my love? I can grow here for you if you’d like.”
Her ears twitched happily as she reached up to lightly touch the rose in her hair, “There is one flower that I have always loved. Its color, its fragrance, everything...but I am afraid that it will not grow here in the mountains.”
Aymeric’s expression fell, “What do you mean?” And then he remembered and sighed, “Azyema’s Rose...the fragrance you’ve always worn.”
She nodded and looked down sadly, “Azyema’s Rose only grows in very hot climates such as Thanalan, thriving in the blistering sun and heat where other plants wither and die. It is a resilient flower, and it is yet another reason why I love it so much...it was the flower my father gave my mother when they first met. Well, it’s seeds which she planted. It’s been my favorite flower since I was very young.” She glanced up at Aymeric’s face, seeing a very calculating, narrow expression and laughed as she moved in close and nuzzled into his side, “I know that look. What are you scheming?”
His narrowed expression melted as she met her gaze again,wrapping her in his arms as he kissed the top of her head and the tips of her ears, “Never you mind. ‘Tis for me to scheme and you to learn about later, yes?”
“Very well, Lord Commander. I shall eagerly await the answer.”
- - - - - - - - - - -
Katsum sighed as she closed the door of the manor behind her, shrugging off her cape and knocking the snow off of her greaves. A boisterous mew made her turn to see the stark white, Lady Borel herself walking up to her to bid her welcome home. Katsum grinned and knelt down to pet her head, “Hello, Duchess.” The old cat purred and then went on her way as Katsum pulled at her greaves until they come loose.
“Welcome home, Katsum,” She looked up again and sapphire met sapphire as Aymeric met her gaze with a smile. He stepped in close and leaned down to peck her lips sweetly which she returned eagerly, “I trust your journey went well?”
“It is good to be home. The journey was bearable, but long,” She sighed as she stood to her feet, smiling sheepishly as she admitted, “And I missed you and our bed terribly...”
Aymeric grinned, “I missed you as well, and having you cuddle into my side as we slept is something I will always miss when you are gone...or did you mean something else?” She blushed and by the look on his face, she knew that was the plan,making her shake her head in a bit of a pout, “I have something to show you when you are all settled in. Would you meet me in the gardens once you’ve gotten changed?”
It was Katsum’s turn to narrow her eyes, “Has your scheme come to life then?”
“Indeed it has,” He again leaned down, ghosting his lips on her forehead as he whispered, “So please don’t keep me waiting long, or I shall have to come and collect you myself.”
The delightful chuckle that occurred as her ears and tail lifted in surprised made Katsum pout and playfully hit his arm.
“You become rather flirty when I go out on my journeys,” She stepped around him to head up the stairs to their room to change, “Perhaps I should go out more often if this is the welcome I get when I come home.”
“I would advise against it, my love. If you are gone for too long, I have no guarantee that I would be gentle.”
“That only makes me want to do it more, my dear husband.” She giggled, glancing back to see that now he had a light dusting of red on his face, “See? I can tease too.” She called back as she reached the door to the bedroom and started in.
She heard him call back, “Indeed you can..”
- - - - - - - - - -
Lifting the skirt of her dress, Katsum descended the few steps down into the garden, following the path up to the green house where she knew he was waiting for her. Aymeric met her at the door with a smile and stopped her before she could go in.
“Please close your eyes, Lady Katsum. It is a surprise after all.”
“How am I supposed to know that you won't be leading me into a trap, my lord?” He gave her a look and she laughed, “Alright, I’m just kidding with you.” She took his hand and closed her eyes, “I am at your command, Ser Borel.”
She felt his hand shake, “I should have never started this game, I always lose to you, dear.”
She laughed warmly and he pulled her forward into the green house and lead her through the flowers. Her ears perked at the sound of the fountain bubbling and the few birds that lived nearby fluttering in the rafters, happy to be out of the cold. The Warrior of Light sighed happily at the peacefully sounds and the sweet smell of the flowers grown by her own husband surrounding her. Suddenly, she caught the scent of the most wonderful fragrance that she knew by heart. Her heart leaped at the very thought and wanted to open her eyes so badly.
“Aymeric, is that-”
“Don’t open your eyes just yet, love. Almost there.” She nodded and followed him still. The scent grew stronger and more vibrant and she was sure she had never smelled an Azyema’s Rose like this before. She felt him stop and encircle her from behind, holding her around the waist as he turned her and whispered in her ear, “Alright, now open your eyes.”
Katsum opened her eyes and gasped at the most beautiful Azyema’s Roses she had ever seen. Their blossoms were the size of her hand and the richest red color, all surrounding a shining red rose-shaped crystal that stood in the middle of them.
She stuttered for a moment, looking up at him, “Aymeric, how in heaven’s name did...”
He pointed at the crystal shaped Azyema’s Rose in the middle, “That is a fire crystal as I am sure you know. It is providing the same heat and sunlight of Thanalan, giving the roses the warmth and light they need to grow here. I luckily had connections with an artisan in Ul’dah who crafted it for me. And as an added bonus, he was kind enough to carve out the Rose in the crystal too to make it even more beautiful.” He hugged her close, looking over the flowers with a satisfied smile, “I had worried that they would not be blooming when you returned. I had just come out here to check on them when I heard you come home, and bless Halone, they bloomed just in time.” He met her gaze, “Do you like your surprise?”
“Aymeric, I love it. Thank you so much…” She laid her head against his chest, doing her best to keep herself from tearing up.
She felt him sigh, “I am glad to hear it. You’ve no idea the amount of work it took to prep the soil, and the amount of sand I tracked through the house.”
“You did all of that for me?”
“Of course I did. I wasn’t sure if I could make it work, but if I could have my wife favorite flowers amidst the garden of my mother’s...by the Fury, I was going to try it.”
One tear rolled down her cheek as she smiled, “Thank you, my love. It is one of the kindest things you’ve done for me...thank you so much.”
His smile broadened, “And I have one last thing,” He reached past her and gently tap the crystal rose and it sparkled and small lights of warmth and flame twinkling off of it and onto the flowers around it to make them sparkle too. Katsum watched in awe and Aymeric whispered to her, “I will always love you until that rose there wilts.”
She blinked and looked at him, “But...it is a crystal, isn’t it? And crystals don’t wilt...”
“Precisely.” He pressed his forehead to hers, cupping her face with his hands, “I love you, my sweet Katsum.”
She smiled as teary-eyed smile as he pulled her into a kiss, “And I love you, my dear Aymeric.”
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the-dragons-knight · 5 years ago
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Prompt #13: I Will Return
Entry thirteen for the FFxiv Write Challenge by @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast
Prompt: “Wax”
Rating: PG
Relations: Aymeric de Borel X WoL OC(Katsum Almor)
Warnings: Major Spoilers of Shadowbringers 5.0! Read at your own risk if you haven’t finished the Main Story!
A letter from Aymeric is Katsum’s most precious keepsake that she has with her on the First.
- - - - - - - - - -
Dearest Katsum,
   I hope this letter finds you well. Feo Ul assures me that it will, though with their playful tendencies, I am not so sure I believe them. Ishgard is well, and I am well as well...
   By the Fury, this is hard to write. I don’t believe I have ever had a letter give me so much trouble before. I have a mixture of worry and love in my mind as a write this. I am happy to know that this will (hopefully) reach you in good health and express my love for you across the rift. Perhaps it shall help you feel less lonely for I know I often must distract myself in order to function past mine own.
   I miss you terribly, my love. I thought I missed you when you were across the seas fighting in Doma, but I was a fool to think it could not get worse. I’ve found that I cannot sleep in our room without you so I have been staying in the guest room. It’s very strange to sleep without you beside me, and often far more cold than I remember. Thankfully, I seemed to have befriended your Drake (his name is Draco, right?) enough where he will keep the fire going for me throughout the night so it stays warm enough as we sleep. Soldier is well too; he happily awaits your return in the Holy Stables and I make sure I take him with me when I return to the frontlines as I promised I would.
Ah, but I am running out of room on the parchment, and by the look on Feo Ul’s face, I don’t think they will be very happy with me if I make them carry more than just this piece. So I shall conclude as best I can.
I trust in the fact that I will see you again and that no matter what happens, you will vanquish your enemies and come home. And when you do come home, my promise shall be kept and we shall go wherever you’d like for a time of rest just you and I. I think is long overdue for us, don’t you?
I love you, Katsum, my queen of dragons, my knightess, my angel. I hope to see you soon so the night’s are no longer so cold and lonely.
With Love,
Aymeric
Katsum read the letter over and over, hanging on to every written word like it was scripture. Oh how she missed him. How she wanted to go home and be with him, to make his nights warm again and fall asleep in his embrace as she kissed his sweet lips. She felt the wax seal at the top with her finger, tracing the undeniable signal of the Holy See. She smiled as the tears rolled down her face. A wave of sadness and hopelessness washed over her as she read over his hand written name again and again.
Aymeric, Aymeric, Aymeric…
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her head and she winced. Katsum pushed the letter away from her and covered her mouth as she coughed. Her whole body shook as the coughing ravaged her small form, making it difficult to breathe. Then it finally stopped and she did her best to catch her breath, looking down at the milky white substance now covering her palm. She wondered how long she could hold out like this. She’d already sought refuge in the Baldaquin tower where she could be away from everything for a little while and try to figure something out. She could feel Raihogg and the corrupted light aether battling in her soul, her own pure aether that was desperately fighting with it too trying to stay in balance. Yet with each episode of that pain and that feeling, she knew the danger grew little by little.
And it terrified her.
Wiping her hand off on a handkerchief, she picked up the letter again and sadly reread it over again, trying to read it as if he were saying it to her and hear his strong voice in her head.
“...’you will vanquish your enemies and come home’...What if I become the enemy and cannot defeat myself...And I shall never come home and bring you suffering if that happens...”
And yet...if I die here...The memory of where the Exarch had come from, the Eighth Umbral Calamity that destroyed his time, suddenly entered her mind. She could only imagine what had happened on that battlefield where she had fallen, only hoping that she and Aymeric fell together as one, but if she were not there…
“No.” A fire ignited within her soul, “I WILL NOT let that happen...” The Miqo’te paladin stood to her feet, folding the letter back softly and staring down at the wax seal again. It had been clear it was a letter form Aymeric not by the handwriting of her name on it, but of the wax he used to seal it. He used half red and half blue; just as they were two halves of each other, so too was the seal.
“No matter what happens, I will not lose this day...I will not become a Lightwarden and I will return to you, my heart. I swear it. No matter what, I will return to you my love.”
The will to fight the fate she was dealt kept her soul alight and she felt her strength returning a little. As she looked up at the ever glowing sky, she thought she even felt Raihogg gain strength too and she breathed deep.
“Savior, give me the strength to fight this evil, to bring back the true light and to not be lost by this corrupted one. I will not bow to this fate, so please, give me the strength to fight and win this world back, once and for all.”
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