#like. you know. boot up ffxiv for the first time this week because i think my wondrous tails may be about to expire

[minti-tales]

FFXIV Write '23, Day 4: Off the Hook

Minti Chocolate, gunbreaker, rubbed her forehead, groaned, and slid deep into the comfy, overstuffed carbuncle sofa in her Free Company quarters. The combat boots she used today squeaked against the tiled marble floor. Major General, or, rather, the plush shark that represented the Major General, was sporting the coat and tactical vest she'd tossed when she came into the room. She was done for the day, and her body knew it. The aches were coming from all over, it seemed.

It was a shame, too, because Krile was supposed to have a walk around the Studium with her - the first time in weeks where they could have time together, outside of the Annex. Now it'd have to be "Couples time next to the fireplace, where we talk quietly and hold hands, so as not to aggravate Minti's headache." Minti chuckled softly, until her healed ribs rudely complained. What was next, being forced to stay in a comfy chair, with only a cup of coffee until dinner time? Maybe Krile wouldn't mind the hazards of dating a Gage Acquisitions woman. She hadn't so far.

Minti tapped her linkpearl while struggling to get her socks off. "This is Krile, go ahead," came the Scion's voice from her pearl. "Hello? ...Minti, is that you?"

*grunt*

"It sounds like you. Rough day on the job?"

*grunt* "Yes." Minti rolled on her side, in a vain attempt to free herself from her undershirt. "We needed to get some people through the Sil'dihn Subterrane, to help a private patron." The bastard was nearly done clinging to her chest, just a little more wiggling and - off. Thank the Twelve, it was off. Freedom never felt so good, truly.

"The same patron from before, right? In Ul'dah?" It sounded like Krile was stacking some papers, probably finishing her research for the night to prepare for tonight's walk.

"Mhm, same one. You would think that there'd be only one way through the Subterrane, right? But it's massive down there! Lots of little pathways and traps to keep you distracted and lost. And Thal's Balls, it stinks." Minti lean over to free the Major General from her clothes, and pull him onto the couch with her. She desperately needed his snuggles and nonchalant attitude about being next to a sweaty, exhausted adventurer. "All that's to say, do you mind stopping by the GA house and having a quiet night here? If I move a Ilm, I swear I'll collapse."

Minti thought she could hear the falling waters from Thaliak's statue. Krile must be heading towards the harbor. "I don't mind at all. You want me to pick you up something from the Last Stand? Something healthy, please, I know you love to eat like a pirate."

A long sigh escaped Minti's lips. "Fine. You pick. I promise I won't complain."

"Hm, hm. Very well, my dear. I'll hold you to that promise. See you soon. Love you."

"Love you too."

[devotedlystrangewizard]

executive dysfunctioning :(

[yascaret]

really LONG CHARACTER SURVEY.

(I edited/removed some of the questions to make this more FFXIV-friendly)

RULES.  Repost,  don’t  reblog  ! Tag  10  !  Good  luck!

TAGGED BY.  No one, I just wanted to do it lol

TAGGING. @gvnbreaker @wood-warder @necrologos @finishing-touch @glory-bound @vysaldhe @violet-warder @whisperingdawn and anyone else who wants to do it!

BASICS.

FULL  NAME :   Lofn Yascaret

NICKNAME :  None (yet??)

AGE :  Appears around 30 by hyur standards 

BIRTHDAY :   Midwinter 

ETHNIC  GROUP : Viera (Rava)

NATIONALITY :  Ivalician (?)

LANGUAGE / S : Common

SEXUAL  ORIENTATION :  Homosexual

ROMANTIC  ORIENTATION : Homoromantic

RELATIONSHIP  STATUS :  In a relationship with Aja Hyskaris & Pjel Qoet

HOME  TOWN / AREA :  Yascaret, Golmore

CURRENT  HOME :  A small, cluttered house in Shirogane

PROFESSION : Disaster lesbian, whiner

PHYSICAL.

HAIR : White with faint violet undertones. Thick, heavy bangs that partially obscure her eyes. Her hair is very dense and wavy, and it reaches her waist when loose.

EYES :   Violet, but the left is considerably paler than the right

FACE :   Pretty, if melancholy. Pronounced cheeks, prominent nose, striking profile. 

LIPS :  Small, but full. Usually painted a dark brown.

COMPLEXION : A dark, barely warm brown. Mottled with white “freckles” in places (nose, cheeks, shoulders, breasts, lower back)

BLEMISHES : None of note

SCARS :  A few old, faded scars here and there from a life long left behind her

TATTOOS :  None

HEIGHT :   Nearly seven fulms

WEIGHT :   Average

BUILD :   Slim, but more bottom-heavy. Her upper arms are the only indication of muscle left from the Wood.

FEATURES :   Feminine, pleasant (by viera standards, at least). Has a very defined nose and a striking profile. Heavy-lidded eyes that naturally lend to melancholy expressions.

ALLERGIES :   None of note

USUAL  HAIR  STYLE :  High, messy ponytail. Dense, thick bangs that almost completely obscure her eyes

USUAL  FACE  LOOK :  Melancholy, aloof, heavy-lidded eyes and faint, pensive frowns

USUAL  CLOTHING :   Loose, comfortable blouses, leather trousers, tall heeled boots. Browns, whites, silver, violet

PSYCHOLOGY.

FEAR / S : Abandonment, loss of loved ones, loss of her senses

ASPIRATION / S :  To find some amount of meaning in her life outside the Wood, to find her calling

POSITIVE  TRAITS :  Resourceful, passionate, resilient

NEGATIVE  TRAITS :  Aloof, anxious, self-destructive

MBTI :  ISFP-T (Adventurer)

ZODIAC :  Menphina (Aquarius in real world)

TEMPERAMENT :  Melancholic

SOUL  TYPE / S :   Artisan (I have no idea what this means??? I googled it and took a buzzfeed quiz for her lol)

ANIMALS :   Rabbit

VICE HABIT / S :   Pining, infatuation, brooding, oversleeping, stress eating

FAITH :  Belief, sure--faith, not really

GHOSTS ? :  Why not?

AFTERLIFE ? :  Why not?

REINCARNATION ? :  Why not? But probably more likely than afterlife.

ALIENS ? :   Probably

POLITICAL ALIGNMENT : Zero concept of politics outside the wood and she intends to keep it that way, being a selfish bitch

EDUCATION  LEVEL :  Average education level of the average rava viera

FAMILY.

FATHER :   lmao

MOTHERS :  Dead to her, all four of them 

SIBLINGS :   One older sister (that she knows of)--their relationship was not great

EXTENDED  FAMILY :  Countless cousins and half-sisters, none of which she knows anything about

NAME MEANING / S :  Lofn, from the village Yascaret

HISTORICAL  CONNECTION ? : It matters not

FAVORITES.

BOOK :  She’s the type of freak who reads instruction manuals and spellbooks for fun, so probably one of those

DEITY :  She tries not to think about them

HOLIDAY :  Moonfire Faire (does that count as a holiday?)

MONTH :  The warm ones

SEASON :  Summer

PLACE :  Her bedroom, or the Azim Steppe

WEATHER :  Thunderstorms, though she is growing more fond of snow

SOUND / S:  Rain on the roof, thunder in the distance, the sound of wind through flowers or trees

SCENT / S :  Honeysuckle, cedarwood, leather, girlfriend ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

TASTE / S :  Honeysuckle, orchid, girlfriend ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

FEEL / S :  Soft moss, clean sheets, sheepskin, girlfriend ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

ANIMAL / S :  Cats

NUMBER :  3

COLORS :  Violet, brown

EXTRA.

TALENTS : Picking up new things (especially technical things),  singing (though she doesn’t sing anymore, ever), 

BAD  AT :  Getting her shit together and keeping her shit together

TURN  ONS :  Shitty smirks, sweet smiles, pet names, fleeting touches, romanticism

TURN  OFFS : Men

HOBBIES : Drawing, writing, gardening, tinkering

TROPES :  Lipstick Lesbian, Insecure Love Interest, Marry Them All, One True Threesome, I Have No Son!, Traumatic Superpower Awakening, Mad Whisper, Country Mouse, Affluent Ascetic, Lady and Knight, Eye Colour Change, Sky Pirate, Combat Stilettos, Dark-Skinned Blond, Statuesque Stunner, Wrench Wench, You Can't Go Home Again, The Gift (I have to stop or I will be on TV Tropes all day)

QUOTES : "Oh no”

MUN QUESTIONS.

Q1 :   If you could write your character your way in their own movie,  what would it be called,  what style would it be filmed in, and what would it be about?          

A1 :  It would probably just be Mulholland Drive but everyone has rabbit ears

Q2 :   What would their soundtrack/score sound like?          

A2 :  Dreamy and melanchol, like The Duke of Burgundy’s OST if it sounded less sinister

Q3 :   Why did you start writing this character?          

A3 :   Because when viera came out I knew exactly what I wanted my viera to be--a physically strong, emotionally stable badass warrior lady who doesn’t afraid of anything--so naturally she became the exact opposite of that because at all times my subconscious is trying to sabotage me 

Q4 :   What first attracted you to this character?          

A4 :   My grubby little gay hands wrapping around Final Fantasy Tactics Advance in 2003 and seeing a viera for the first time. Also, my grubby little 1999 gay brain struggling to comprehend why I thought Ultimecia was so hot

Q5 :   Describe the biggest thing you dislike about your muse.

A5 :   Sometimes writing her is stressful because I channel my own past experiences with depression and anxiety a little too hard I think. Also her overarching themes I want to eventually bring out via RP storylines are so ambitious and complicated that I feel entirely too stupid to write it well so I’m always at least a little bit stressed about that

Q6 :   What do you have in common with your muse?          

A6 :   Crippling depression lmao

Q7 :   How does  your muse feel about  you?          

A7 :   She’d probably not even acknowledge my existence because I’m a human and what good is that

Q8 :   What characters does your muse have interesting interactions with ?        

A8 :   I feel like Pjel and Aja are the obvious choice so I feel a little shitty saying Pjel and Aja, but...I really love playing Lofn off both of them, I feel like they perfectly compliment different parts of her personality that I really enjoy writing (mainly her pettiness and her gayness) and I feel like Lofn also prods at both of their insecurities just by being her terrible self, and it’s fun for me to watch them squirm lol

Q9 :   What gives  you inspiration  to write  your muse ?        

A9 :    Um, premenstrual syndrome?? Lmao but for real if I’m struggling I’ll just go watch some Gentleman Jack (Lofn is literally Ann Walker, sorry) or listen to some FF8/FF9 music, or dick around in FF12 for a bit. Basically I identify a handful of loose inspirational touchstones for a character and fuck around with all of them until inspiration strikes

Q10 :  How long did this take you to complete ?          

A10 :  About a week, off and on...

[saoirse-argentum]

FFXIV Invades Dissidia: Into the Depths of Darkness

Since I failed at finishing this yesterday...Here is the rest of Friday’s FanFiction installment.

Be forewarned that there is some violence and Sexual harassment...unless this were an otome game. Then Sephiroth would just be your average sadist...like the cast of Diabolik Lovers. >_>

Sorry? You’re welcome?

Either way, thanks for reading!

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

Sephiroth hardly spoke, but Exdeath was blustering…maniacally so. Even though he spoke to Saoirse as if she were inferior, he was at least answering her questions. As she understood it, she’d been brought to the dimension, same as them, to act as a warrior in the battle between the Goddess of Protection: Materia and God of Destruction: Spiritus…a war that Sephiroth and Exdeath had fought before.

Sephiroth and Exdeath had been summoned by Spiritus and it was Sephiroth’s assumption that Saoirse had been summoned by Materia. When Exdeath questioned his motives for bringing her along, he merely replied, “Soon our goals will align.”

It certainly didn’t ease her concerns, but before she could lose herself to her worry, she heard a familiar voice call to her.

“Sunshine!”

“Haurchefant?!” Saoirse turned, halting Sephiroth and Exdeath. She was relieved to see him, and not just him but Aymeric too. “You’re here!” She attempted to run to them, but Sephiroth caught her by the collar, holding her back.

“Leaving so soon?” Something about the calmness in Sephiroth’s voice disturbed her.

She glanced back to see his cold grin and her skin paled. Suddenly she wanted Haurchefant and Aymeric to run. “I wasn’t going anywhere,” she lied. “They’re my friends, I was just surprised to see them.”

Sephiroth yanked her back, forcing her to the ground. He stood in front of her and raised his sword to strike. “I’m afraid for now our party is full. It’s best you retreat for the time being.”

Aymeric took a step forward, drawing his own blade. “I will not leave without Saoirse…as if I’d allow you to lay another hand on her.”

“Enough mindless chatter.” Exdeath raised his hand, and his sword followed through the air in its direction. “Let us end this so that we may move on!” Exdeath threw his arm forward, sending his sword flying toward Aymeric.

Aymeric went to parry with his blade, but just Exdeath’s blade threatened to reach him, Sephiroth dashed forward.

“Aymeric, look out!” Haurchefant charged Aymeric, pushing him out of the way. Exdeath’s sword flew past him, but Sephiroth’s blade pierced through his right shoulder.

Sephiroth drove his boot into Haurchefant’s stomach and he pulled back on his sword. The steel slipped from Haurchefant’s shoulder as he flew back against the ground. “How unfortunate. It appears I missed your heart.” He flicked his blade clean of blood and turned his back to Haurchefant and Aymeric.

“Haurchefant!” Saoirse grabbed her staff, but before she could run to Haurchefant’s side to heal him, Exdeath lifted her up by the waist with a single arm. “Let me go!” She pounded her fists against Exdeath’s armor, but the more she struggled the harder he pressed her into his side until he threatened to crush the air from her lungs.

Aymeric knelt beside Haurchefant. “Will you be alright?”

He nodded, wincing in pain as he sat up. “You needn’t worry about me; you must help Saoirse.”

“I will see to it your bravery is rewarded.” Aymeric quickly rose to his feet and chased after Sephiroth and the others.

“Give me the girl.” Sephiroth stopped at Exdeath’s side and waited for him to drop Saoirse onto his shoulder. “I trust you can handle the rest.” He headed toward the tower as Exdeath stepped toward Aymeric in the opposite direction.

“No! Leave them alone!” Saoirse pushed away from Sephiroth, but he maintained his grip.

“You may wish to hold on…unless you would rather plummet to your death.” Before Saoirse could ask what Sephiroth meant he was leaping from the ground, soaring toward the tower in a stretch that rivaled even Estinien’s skills.

Aymeric and Haurchefant only got further and further away and there was nothing she could do. She could only hope that with Sephiroth out of the way, Aymeric could hold off Exdeath on his own…Just until she could make it back to them…Somehow.

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

Once at Spiritus’s tower, Sephiroth tossed Saoirse to the ground…tired of listening to her scream in his ear. “Quiet.”

“No!” Saoirse stood and dusted off her skirt. “If you think I am just going to bite my tongue and wait patiently while my friends are out there fighting, you’re wrong! You hurt them! What happened to our goals being aligned!?”

“If your friends fall so easily then they will only be nuisance when that time comes.” Sephiroth set his sword aside, but even without it there was an air of destruction around him. It was a darkness unlike any Saoirse had ever seen, but she would not fade in its presence.

“They will not fall.” Saoirse clenched her hands into fists and narrowed her eyes. “You are arrogant and you think because you possess power that you get to determine the path of others, but you don’t! Perhaps a day will come when we do fight side by side, but today…today you are the enemy and you crossed the wrong woman!” Saoirse brought her staff before her.

A cruel smile crept across Sephiroth’s lips as he stepped toward her. He did not reach for his sword or raise his hands to guard himself from whatever attack Saoirse believed she was capable of. He stopped just in front of her. “If it’s despair you want, then I shall provide.” A green aura enveloped his body and before Saoirse could strike, he gripped her staff with one hand and hurled her into the wall across the room.

Saoirse felt her ribs crack and her breath escaped her as her back crashed against the stone and her wand slid away. She looked up at Sephiroth with a weak grin. “Is that all you got?”

He let out an amused breath and crushed her hand beneath his boot. “Perhaps I misjudged your capabilities.” He ground his heel harder as she screamed. “If this is the most of your strength then you are only good to me dead.”

Saoirse’s screams subsided and her grin returned. “Bite me.” It was then Sephiroth noticed her other hand reaching into her robe, but before he could move, she tossed a glass bottle of paralyzing potion against the silver pauldron on his shoulder, covering him in the yellow substance. She quickly lifted his foot from her hand and stood as best she could.  She held her side with her good hand as she hobbled over to her staff. She cast Afflatus Misery before Sephiroth could regain his mobility. She didn’t wait to see the status of its effect. She turned for the door. She had to get to Haurchefant and Aymeric…and the Fury willing, Estinien, wherever he was, before it was too late.

Saoirse used her shoulder to push the heavy doors open, but before she had enough room to exit Sephiroth grabbed her by the hair, heaving her back to him. “Let me go!”

“I don’t know whether I am more impressed or irritated by your resolve.” Sephiroth grasped her wand and tossed it aside. He pulled her hair hard enough to force her head back, so she was looking at him. “I see now that your métier in magic is not for combat…you are a healer. How romantic.” He released her hair and swept his leg under hers, forcing her to fall back. “You may prove useful after all.”

“I have no intention of aiding you. Not after what you did to Haurchefant.” Saoirse rose from the ground slowly, cradling her ribs. “Get out of my way.”

Sephiroth shoved her back down and knelt in front of her. “I suggest you silence your whining, girl.” He grasped her wrist in his hand and forced her gaze to him by her chin. “Or I will find another way to occupy your vexing mouth.”

“I’ll die first.”

He inched closer, and had her hand not been broken Saoirse would have driven her fist into his jaw. Sephiroth smirked as if knowing this…Pleased and yet… “How annoying.” He forced his lips to hers, quieting any further protests.

Saoirse’s spine went cold and dread filled her insides. Suddenly, her pain was the least of her worries.

Just how deep were the depths of his darkness…and how far would he pull her under.

 TO BE CONTINUED…Until next week!

[eldritchsurveys]

264.

Hola, hablas espanol? >> Nein.

Music is playing right now, isn't it? What song? >> Celestial Violence, Ihsahn.

Do you use AIM? What's your screen name? >> Well, no one uses AIM anymore, it doesn’t exist now.

How many cell phones have you gone through in your life? >> Enough that I can no longer keep track.

Do you have a little sister? What's her name? >> I don’t.

Who was the last person you screamed at? Why were you screaming? >> I don’t remember.

Can you crack your joints? Which ones? >> I can crack my knuckles and my neck. Sometimes other joints crack, too, but I can’t do them on command.

What's your favorite name for a guy? And a girl? >> ---

Are you good at answering trick questions? >> I don’t know.

Do you use Myspace or Facebook? Or both? >> I don’t use either.

Do you need spellcheck in order to spell things correctly? >> I don’t.

Do you do too many surveys? How many have you done today? >> If I thought I was doing too many surveys, I’d do fewer. This is the first today.

Have you ever changed yourself to impress someone? Who? >> Probably, in some inconsequential way.

Who was the last person you gave up on? Why did you give up on them? >> I don’t know.

What was the last thing you printed? Is there even ink in your printer? >> The last thing I printed was done at the library, and it was the name change petition form. We got rid of our printer because neither of us was going to buy ink for it and there was just no point.

What's your favorite number? Is there any reason that's your favorite? >> Nine and nineteen. Yeah, part Dark Tower Problems and part Odin Problems. I think those Problems might be more related than it seems at first glance.

What kind of shampoo do you use? Does it smell amazing? >> Just some shea butter formula. It smells all right.

Do you go to concerts? What was the last one you attended? >> I do, although obviously not nearly as many as I attended when I lived in NYC and everyone played there. The last one I went to was Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Have you ever had a conversation with someone through bulletins? >> I barely remember the shit I did on MySpace at all.

Do you shop online? With your own credit card, or someone else's? >> Yes, with my debit card and PayPal account.

Who's your best friend? How long have you known each other? >> ---

Who was your first boyfriend/girlfriend? Why did you break up? >> Hmm.

Have you ever gotten your nails done? Or do you get them done regularly? >> I have, and I didn’t much enjoy the experience, so I never went back.

Have you been outside yet today? What were you doing? >> I didn’t go outside today, except to put out some trash.

Tell me about the last thing that made you laugh until it hurt. >> I don’t remember.

When was the last time you got a new bed? Is your bed comfy? >> A few weeks ago, actually. It’s quite comfortable, although it took a bit of getting used to.

What kind of games did you play on the playground when you were younger? >> (I want you to know that for some reason my brain completely threw out the word “playground” and replaced it with “computer”. I have no idea how my reading comprehension tanked that hard, but since I didn’t play on the playground as a child but I did play on the computer, I’m just going to keep my answer, lmao.) The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis, AlienTales, SimCity 2000, Power Pete (although I suuuuuucked at it, I had no idea what I was doing), and MathBlaster, mostly. Please look these games up on YouTube (except SimCity, I’m sure you already know what that is). They’re wild.

Have you ever buried a time capsule with a friend? Did you dig it up yet? >> No.

Tell me one thing you'd like to change in 2010. There's gotta be something. >> LOL

Do you have or want any tattoos? Of what? >> I have three tattoos and of course I want more.

Do you remember the first time you ever drove a car? Who were you with? >> Yeah, because it wasn’t that long ago, lmao. Sparrow let me try driving the car around the Wayland high school parking lot last year sometime.

Do any of your friends drink excess amounts of alcohol? Do you? >> No and no.

What color is your favorite hoodie? When did you get it? >> Black. The Museum of Death in New Orleans.

How many pairs of shoes do you have? Are they under your bed? >> Two, not counting weather boots. No, they’re in the front hall.

What exactly is under your bed? Is it a mess? >> Nothing’s under there.

Have you ever been in handcuffs? Why, exactly? >> Yeah. For various reasons, none of them kinky :(

What's your favorite thing to do when drunk? Would you do this sober? >> I just like to listen to music and mess around on the internet when I’m drunk. Not really much else to do, except for things that require more focus than I have when I’m intoxicated. Yes, I would also do these things sober.

When was the last time you bled? What happened? >> I don’t remember.

Have you ever had to be put to sleep at a hospital? Why? >> Well, I was tranquilised in the psych ward once, but other than that, no.

Do you actually have a calendar on your wall? What are the pictures of? >> No.

When are you planning on moving out of your parents' house? >> ---

Tell me about your day today. :) >> I tried to get myself to go run an errand but my brain wasn’t having it, so I watched Game of Thrones and reactivated my FFXIV sub and looked at tumblr instead.

Are you a fan of dogs? Do you have any pets? >> I am a fan of dogs. I do not personally have any pets.

Who was the last person in your family to graduate high school? Was it you? >> ---

Have you ever been on a cruise? How many? Where did they go? >> No.

[as-eorzea-turns]

As Eorzea Turns ~ ACT 1: Fish Out of Water

SCENE 8

POV: Sylbfohc Ostulmsyn YEAR: 1553 AGE: 24

“An Auroch hunt,” I rumbled with exaggerated enthusiasm as Swerdhwynza and I neared the Aleport gates. With the mission details given to us in full, Skoenthota, the shiny kid, and the duskwight lass had gone their separate ways. I’d had ever intention of catching up to Skoenthota, but my stout cousin jerked me aside for a word instead. Goody. “Sounds, excitin’!” I grinned.

“Cut th’ shite,” he growled, wheeling ‘round to throw his large, angry face up into mine.

I stopped abruptly, stiffening my neck against the intimate proximity. “Personal space there, mate!” I tutted like a disapproving seawife, my brows waving upward, and flattened my hand over his face to give it a gentle nudge away from me.

He ignored me, swatting my hand away with a firm chop from his own. “You, of all people, are unwelcome on these missions. On any mission, for tha’ matter!”

“Easy, eeeeeeasy,” I cooed, lowering my face toward his. My answering smile was antagonistically soothing – and short lived – the hefty clap of his open hand across my cheek more than enough to wipe it away. Well. Turn it away at least. I straightened, breathing a laugh as color blossomed in what I imagined would be the perfect shape of a hand across my face. Not the first time. “I’ve as much a right to be there as any,” I chortled, lifting a hand to aide my jaw in a few tender rotations.

“Hah!” He spat a bitter, humorless note. “Why? Because yeh’ve got connections? Because yeh’ve bewitched half the settlement with yer charms?”

“Is bein’ well liked a crime now?” I dodged his swipe this time.

“Watch it, boy!” He roared. The pair of Yellowjacket soldiers at the gate turned to look at us, their gazes critical. “Yeh’re a boulder’s throw away from bein’ thrown from th’ city! Regardless o’ who yeh’re connected to.”

“He’d never–”

“He would, an’ ye know it. It’d be as much fer yer own good as t’would be for his. For the whole o’ Aleport, for tha’ matter.” His voice grew quiet and his eyes narrowed, “...ye know why.”

Anger shivered up my spine, its bitter bile churning grudgingly in my belly. “My actions are warranted,” I rumbled quietly.

“How blind, yeh are,” he said, his lip curling admonishingly. “Warranted or no, yeh'll put every man, woman, an’ child o’ Aleport at risk if yeh continue on in such a manner,” he paused, meaning for his words to sink to my depths, hoping they’d find bottom to anchor to. “...An’ now, to top it all off, yeh mean ter be chummy with a duskwight.”

With a huff of a laugh, my head rolled forward to hang before my throat. “Chummy?” I peered at him from beneath my eyelashes, my brows waving together in bitter amusement. “An’ how do ye imagine a duskwight plays into my alleged schemin’? Eh? Think we’ll grab a pair o’ spears an’ take Whore’s Alley by storm? Or–” I dared to raise my voice to a shout, “–make miqo’bobs o’ the ‘Jackets?” I lifted my head to shoot a dashing smile, a salute, and a wink to the attentive Yellowjackets beyond. They frowned.

Swerdhwynza closed his eyes for a moment to blow a thin sigh through his nose. “Go on,” he said evenly, glaring up at me. “Make light o’ it. But yeh’re on choppy waters as is, boy – yer standin’ amongst the folk o’ this settlement is thin an’ growin’ thinner with each day. Align yerself with a duskwight now an’ the people’ll turn on yeh once an’ for all. Yes,” he growled as I opened my mouth to quip back, “even the womenfolk yeh’ve enchanted with yer wits.”

I wrinkled my nose and lifted an index finger, “I’d’ve gone with staff, personally. Builds a better metaphor.” I dodged a timely swat upside the back of my head.

“Is there no gettin’ through teh yeh!? Listen to me! For yer own good, don’t go mixin’ with people you ought not mix with! You, o’ all people, must watch yerself!”

“Oh, must I?” I nearly laughed with frustration. “Gods! If my standin’ is so poor, maybe I ought ter jus’ team up with her an’ rob the lot o’ you blind! A’least I’d be booted from the settlement with somethin’ ter show for it!”

A frustrated growl ripped from Swerdhwynza’s teeth. “If she knew what you were even she’d have nothing ter do with yeh!”

“What I am?” My brow shot toward my hairline, and before I could stop myself, laughter roared from my lips.

Color rose quickly from Swerdhwynza’s neck and flooded his face. “Well– I– You know what I mean.”

The sight of Swerdy’s flustered colors did wonders in bleeding away my anger. In fact, a more genuine wave of laughter caught me in its current, and with a hearty clap of my hand on his shoulder, it carried me away. His frustrated sputterings faded as I passed through the Aleport gate and waded through the bustling crowd.

As Eorzea Turns is an episodic writing project based in the Final Fantasy XIV universe, set in the past, and written by a group of roleplayers on the Balmung server.

Visit our tumblr to learn more and to read from the beginning! Read chronologically ~ ACT 1: Fish Out of Water Learn more ~ About AET

We release two pre-written scenes a week every Sunday & Wednesday at 7pm PST.

This week’s scene featuring: @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast @diskwrite-ffxiv