Category Archives: Writing

Fiction, non-fiction, fanfiction, poetry…

FFXIV: Endless Sky

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There are a lot of nice little story bits in the Azim Steppe, like when Lyse tells some kid what a ‘nation’ is, but… I don’t have a lot to say about them.

Honorifics are a bit tricky for me in this part. The English dubs/subs translate the titles and honorifics to English for ease of the unfamiliar, so how weeby culturally appropriate for the implied in-game culture do I want to get by putting some of them back in?

I’ve been listening to the J-rock band Cidergirl again recently, and I think the lead singer seems to have a voice type very much like the Miqo’te voice type that R’nyath has. They did the opening song for the anime Komi Can’t Communicate, which I enjoyed very much, but they’ve got more super-happy music, and R’nyath is specifically adopting Saityen.

Chapter 56: The Second Duel

 

Chapter 57: Endless Sky

The Scions, the Doman Liberation Front, and the villagers of Namai did not retreat far at first. Nearly everyone was in high spirits, talking animatedly. Isse was fairly bubbling with excitement, his face alight in a way Achiyo had not seen before. He looked so young and kind when he smiled. “Can you believe it? We faced the crown prince himself and lived to tell the tale! You’ve no idea what this means for us. Everyone’s talking about getting more weapons and armour and… and… And we’re not going to stop until we’ve taken back our homeland!” Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Second Duel

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I’m sure Master Kamui is intended to be the ‘harmless old perv’ archetype, but I’m in no mood to be merciful to him today : P

I made an outline for the rest of 4.0! Should be complete in roughly 8 chapters, including this one. Maybe fewer tbh. This one was not super inspiring to me so my apologies if it seems kind of bleh. That’s why it took so long for its short length…

Chapter 55: The Land of Dead Hope

 

Chapter 56: The Second Duel

Oboro had taken Jacke, Tsubame, and Rinala to visit an old master of his village, who lived high in the mountains. But Master Kamui immediately sent the men away again, to hunt beasts to turn into medicine for him, while inviting ‘the little swallow and the kitty-cat’ to remain behind. Rinala would just as well have gone hunting too, but Tsubame had shot her an anxious look, and so she stayed. Jacke and Oboro departed again, Jacke grumbling irritably the whole way. “Enlightenment, my arse! This old coot’s a real piece o’ work…” Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Land of Dead Hope

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Kurenai and Hisui are the Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley of FFXIV teehee

I’ve been arranging FFXIV soundtracks for piano. If you wanna see, search for my username on MuseScore.

Chapter 54: The Ruby Depths

 

Chapter 55: Land of Dead Hope

The Scions did not leave the Ruby Sea immediately. While Achiyo, Gosetsu, Kekeniro, and Lyse conferred on their next course of action, R’nyath led some of the other Scions back beneath the waves to Sui-no-Sato, even though he wasn’t really a fan of having a wet tail. First of all, they needed to thank Yugiri’s parents properly for their help, and he’d gotten Achiyo’s approval for it. He had even bought some gifts for them off the Confederates, delicacies from Kugane – probably stolen, but… who was to say at this point? Secondly, R’nyath smelled problems that they could help with, Shiosai definitely had some secret stress hanging over him. All his years of adventuring experience told him so. Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Ruby Depths

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I’ve been away for much longer than I intended, and it’s uncertain how many chapters I’ve got in me atm. I partly blame HSR, but honestly have you seen Mydei? I don’t normally go for bulky-muscly guys but I’m making an exception for the blatantly obvious thirst trap, he can flatten me onto a mosaic-tiled floor/wall/bath any day of the week. He could tell me to get on my knees and I’d call him ‘my king’ as I did. Or Mydeity. (also may I point out he’s got plot elements similar to Aymeric – patricide to save the kingdom much?)

I got bitten by a plot bunny shortly after writing the previous chapter of this story, so many moons ago, so I wrote a Japanese-inspired fairytale called Ambassador of Ishgard in which Achiyo is a dragon. I recommend it if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s fairly short and has some cute moments!

I got Vivienne’s gloves and greaves done for her cosplay, but Cronus is only half-done. Which is more than before, and gosh the LEDs are gonna look super sick when it is done. And I still think I want to do a helmet eventually.

Chapter 53: The Ruby Sea

 

Chapter 54: The Ruby Depths

The Confederacy leadership lived in the shadow of Heaven-on-High, and there was no need to climb the tower to visit them. In fact, no one knew how to enter the tower.

Tansui was there, the Confederate lieutenant who had granted them passage back on Sakazuki, and he brought them to the captain of the Confederacy, a tired-looking Roegadyn in his thirties named Rasho. But they would not aid the Scions, no matter how much Chuchupa swaggered or Lyse pleaded. The Garleans had not yet turned to destroy them, and they would not hasten that day by openly declaring defiance. Even when, not three bells later, word came to Rasho that Confederate sailors had been captured by Garlean-allied Kojin, they would not act. Continue reading →

Ambassador of Ishgard

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I was reading Kyota Ko’s Japanese Folktales books and also listening to a ton of Joe Hisaishi (Studio Ghibli’s composer) soundtracks and then my friend and I rewatched Nausicäa of the Valley of the Wind and then I read Spirited Away fanfics for 10 hours straight and it all made me want to write a Japanese-themed fairytale. So I did. Immediately. Abandoning all my other creative commitments.

This fairytale is set in the FFXIV world so I don’t have to do too much world-building/character-building, but it’s set in an AU. Don’t think too hard about it, it’s a fairytale. It features several of my WoL from my main fic, For Love and Life, but you don’t have to read a single word of that for this fic because this fic is in an alternate reality in which the Dragonsong War was somehow resolved in the recent past without the WoL, and Hingashi is currently entering something of a Meiji period in which outsiders are permitted entry. Which is why a couple of my characters who are not from Hingashi (Chuchupa is from Limsa, R’nyath from Gridania) are portrayed as being from Hingashi for purposes of this fic.

Achiyo, my main WoL, has always had Ashitaka’s Theme for her theme song, but lately I’ve been feeling like Nausicäa’s OST would work for her as well, and specifically for this fic Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away OSTs were very inspiring (shout out to The Rain too). Maybe some Inuyasha inspired me too? Idk, I just like the idea of the Japanese wilderness completely infested with supernatural beings and animism. (They’re not the only culture to have this, obviously, but they’re the ones I’ve been reading about so that’s what we’re doing today)

Since this is mostly a romance, I really wasn’t expecting this story to have as much horror element as it did? Japanese horror is inspiring but I didn’t think I’d have that much of it? Arachnophobes should probably skip this one. Or at least, stop reading after the bit about flowers.

I hope it’s entertaining!
Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Ruby Sea

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Love the Ruby Sea night music, Westward Tide : )

Been hard at work on my Vivienne cosplay again – I’ve just about completed a pair of Abyss gauntlets! Next up, Abyss sollerets… wish me luck… T_T

I’ve also been reading the books written by Kyota Ko and they’re fascinating! And paint a pretty grim picture of normal peoples’ lives. In our peaceful modern day, Yotsuyu’s actions seem outrageous, but when you read about thousands of historical people dying in (for instance) revenge plots, or to pre-empt revenge plots, she actually seems pretty tame. But I don’t think we could stomach too much real life in this romantic fairy tale, mixed with real heartfelt emotion though it is, so I’m not changing the plot or anything.

Chapter 52: Going Home

 

Chapter 53: The Ruby Sea

‘Safe’ in the offices of the East Aldenard Trading Company, Hancock explained the situation: no one would find easy passage to Doma at this time. Things were not as Achiyo had left them. The Ruby Sea was controlled by a group known as the Confederacy, and she vaguely remembered them; the merchants she had sailed with before had paid them a toll, the Ruby Tithe, to cross the straits. She did not remember much more, for it had not been her business, and was glad Hancock could explain things in full. Continue reading →

FFXIV: Going Home

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An onsen and shopping? It’s like all my anime filler episodes have COME AT ONC- (gets slapped to the First)

Eh, it’s frivolous, but I had fun. : )

All Achiyo-related flashbacks can use Parting Ways as their soundtrack.

Chapter 51: When the War Is Over

 

Chapter 52: Going Home

Setting sail the next morning was as quick and efficient as even Chuchupa could have hoped for, though Urianger showed up at the last second to give a gift to Alisaie, a new rapier of silvery steel that would be easier for her to wield than her summoned aetherial weapon. Achiyo could see that had gotten Rinala’s hopes up, but no sign of Thancred was forthcoming before they set sail – with a remarkably full complement of passengers, for besides the eight Warriors of Light, Lyse, Alphinaud, Alisaie, Tataru, and Lilidi, there seemed to be a number of rogues in green caps who looked like pirates but not part of the crew, and a Doman ninja. Rinala seemed to know all of them, and how, she had no idea. Perhaps they would explain over the next two moons. Continue reading →

FFXIV: When the War Is Over

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this is horribly self-indulgent (7,000 words of fluff, most of it written literal years ago) and yet it’s what we’ve been waiting for, please enjoy : D

Chapter 50: Achiyo Defeated

 

Chapter 51: When the War is Over

The wounded were borne away in wains to Castrum Oriens, Y’shtola among them, with Lyse and Pipin to guard. Gradually, those left took stock of their situation. Rhalgr’s Reach was in shambles. The tents were charred tatters; the cannons were in pieces. Holes had been blown in the cliffs, including those that contained historic chambers now laid bare to the elements. And there were so many bodies, hundreds of casualties, many of them unarmed; people lined them up in neat rows to prepare for burial, weeping and cursing the Imperials. The ground was covered in scattered dark patches of dried blood. Continue reading →

FFXIV: Achiyo Defeated

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Chapter 49: Into the Fringes

 

Chapter 50: Achiyo Defeated

Conrad Kemp looked around at all the celebrating forces within Rhalgr’s Reach. Both Alliance and Resistance fighters alike were going about their duties grinning, even laughing, discussing the future with hope in their eyes. And those off duty were drinking and singing in the tavern. Even the quiet infirmary had a smile about it. “Hah, to think that the last time Gridanian troops trod this soil was more than a century ago, during the Autumn War – and that was to defend against our invasion.” He looked up at the great statue of Rhalgr. “Ours is a long and bloody history, to be sure, and it gives me heart to see that despite our acrimonious past, we can still come together for the sake of the future.” Continue reading →

FFXIV: Into the Fringes

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Whoooo Stormblood!!! Y’know, once upon a time I thought I’d never make it here, even though I’ve had tons of notes for it for a long while. And I know, with it being the most political expansion, it’s a little more difficult than the others to get emotionally invested in – but I have some story threads that I think will be pretty interesting. And of course, this is a fanfic, I can skip the worst of the politics if I want! You’ve already all played the game anyway.

That being said, I personally found 4.0’s opening to be one of those spots that’s hard to get emotionally invested in. So we’ll be moving fast for a bit.

Thanks, Cider Spider, for forever implanting Lyse puns into my brain.

Also oops I spent the past three months in 1) year-end work crunch/recovery, 2) writing out Achiyo’s entire backstory (will post after I finish posting 4.0), and 3) playing Honkai Star Rail.

Chapter 48: The Battle in the Sky

 

Chapter 49: Into the Fringes

Rinala looked around at the Alliance camp within Castrum Oriens, the fortification on Baelsar’s Wall that was now the Alliance headquarters in Gyr Abania. It was already more arid on this side of the Wall than the Shroud, the trees thinner and less leafy, reminding her of the southern border of the Shroud where the forest met her own Thanalan. This part of the castrum was largely built of stone, with metal on top, which surprised her after seeing the grand metal intricacy of Baelsar’s Wall itself – were the Garleans taking advantage of older structures as the basis for their own fortifications? Continue reading →