aymeric has got to be the funniest character ever. notable pretty boy. serious and stern in appearance. has clawed and scraped his way up ishgardian society to gain the power needed to enact reform. has immense political connections. an expert in diplomacy and manners. attends formal events on the regular since it is required of him. a skilled dancer who is the talk of noble women. is voted in as lord speaker and is in charge of the temple knights. is by all means the ultimate catch who could have anyone he wants.
and yet! he does not like doing Any of this!!! he is still single in his 30s. he wants to quit his job and see the world, but won’t because he feels morally obligated to stay. despite having his pick of anyone in ishgard, he becomes enamored with the adventurer who not only arrives in ishgard as a fugitive, but immediately gets in trouble with the heaven’s ward and crashes into ishgard on the back of a dragon more than once.
he is the cause of awkward silence at alliance meetings on more than one occasion due to how passionate he gets, and he fumbles around when asking wol to dinner and can’t keep his emotions in check around them.
his adoptive parents (who were by all accounts a nice elderly couple) have passed on and the only family he has left is his birth father who mocks him for his idealism and does not love him; he is visibly ruffled when this is used against him in a debate. he loves sweets and gets excited about the starlight celebration and volunteers to hand out gifts to children. he has a dodo omelette recipe he uses to convince lucia, the literal garlean spy he spared, about the joys of cooking. this does not work.
he walks around on guard duty in a neon blue elephant suit for reasons we can only speculate about. what the fuck is wrong with this guy (affectionate).
#Urianger is the one filming this lol#See here’s the thing.#I think they’re generally chill with hugs#Being carried? Alphinaud handles it better#ALISAIE on the other hand#I imagine she’s like a cat#In that she’ll sometimes tolerate it#But when she’s done she’s DONE#you either notice the signs or pay the price xD#ffxiv#alisaie leveilleur#alphinaud leveilleur#WoL
since a certain someone seems convinced that there are absolutely no queer creators in this fandom, prove him wrong by promoting yourself in reblogs <3 ill go first - i'm a trans nb aroace artist that draws mostly my wol and fanart, and i have an ongoing webcomic for my wolcanon as well, but it's updating very slowly i fear...! here's my ko-fi and vgen!
for those who want to know the url of the biphobe, it's @/nights-at-crystarium
after his blantant biphobia he has chosen to ignore people who have called him out and also has the audacity to act as a victim as if he is not the one who is outright hostile to bi folks. he also thinks if he grows big enough, his biphobia will be more acceptable.
For those who haven't seen the original exchange, here's the dogwater take from anon that kicked us off:
hApPy pRiDe 🏳️🌈😚 Here's to getting upset that other queers might imagine a fictional character with no established canon sexuality to be interested in more than just one gender.
Oh, and why not sprinkle some caaaaasual racism into it! Because fans "in Japan (and maybe other places idk)" might not recognize the same shitty gender-normative stereotypes as you. So true. We the Asians should def get a pass for homophobia because our cultures are just Like That™ or whatever the fuck.
Brother. Do you know any damn thing about queerness outside of North America? Yes, Japan (and maybe other places idk) has the same/similar cultural tells for queerness because (1) Western esp American media is a major influence on global culture, and (2) shitty gendernormative and sexist beliefs are worldwide and upheld to varying levels of severity.
Holy fuck. I know people of color don't exist in English dialogues about queerness except as window dressing, but please consider perspectives outside your own. Especially during a month that celebrates the diverse spectrum of queerness.
Anyway, here's the very questionable response NAC posted and is now crashing out over:
Even if they could relate to the anon's sentiments, their response is so fucking entitled and whiny. HEY, I'M THE VICTIM. I'M BEING OPPRESSED. WHAT DO YOU MEEEEAAAAN I'M BEING INSENSITIVE TO BI/PAN/OMNISEXUAL PEOPLE YOU'RE TAKING MY WORDS IN BAD FAITH.
Like, did you all know we can have very real conversations about gay erasure without throwing other people under the bus over personal player perceptions of a fictional character's sexuality? Mind blown.
sorry to keep harping on about this but this is what J thinks of queer creators in the community. what do we think he thinks counts as a queer creator. let's take a guess
despite being so far removed from FFXIV drama, i still managed to hear about this and i think this entire thing is hysterical to me because people in the community actively headcanon emet-selch as genderfluid and transmasc. so if they're shipping emet-selch with their fem!wol that doesn't mean emet-selch has a penis or is cishet male. the gross assumptions these two people have in addition to being hateful is astonishing to me, but also just incredibly phobic to a lot of different groups in queer communities in the fandom.
Also, as an aside and arguably, the unsundered in general are gender ambiguous and therefore their sexuality being ambiguous as well is pretty well canon given the fact they can body hop at will or just make their own bodies. Emet-Selch chooses to (mostly) retain his masc leaning appearance, but that doesn't mean he's cishet. Most importantly, despite stans like me wishing it were canon, Emet-Selch is NOT officially canonically shipped with anyone in FFXIV's story, let alone the wol. We take inference based on the intimacy shared in the story, but that doesn't mean it's deeper than platonic and SE has never confirmed one way or the other to my current knowledge.
Canonically, he's none of those things! He's just a magic man. With no actual established sexuality. I've seen plenty of straight, cis men and women you would swear are queer without knowing them - I had a roommate with every 'Lesbian coded' thing you could think of, but she just... liked a lot of the same fashion and styles, etc and kept getting mistaken for a gay woman. A male friend of mine thought he might be bi, and decided he wasn't after testing the waters, but often comes off to others as gay/bi... but he's not. Don't judge a book by its cover - whether the person is real, or fictional. (I thought we all knew not to assume people's sexualities by now, but... here we are. This same kind of shit made Heated Rivalry fans act like childish pricks - fandoms love to assume and demand sexualities, and engage in media fandom in unhealthy ways.)
That said, this is fiction. Emet Selch does not exist. He is 1s and 0s. He cannot be gay or bi or ace or trans or anything else anywhere but in your head. So go buck wild, design the fictional character however you personally want to see it, because he's not real, and you can do that! - and remember that fandom was made so that we could all celebrate loving a certain piece of media together. Not to argue about what kind of queer label Spock or Kirk is - each person is entitled to THEIR fiction and head-canon, and attacking them over it is the epitome of immaturity... you're playing pretend, and fighting over the make believe character?? Do you know how actually, literally childish that is for grown adults?? 8 year olds play pretend on the playground and don't act like this.
And then to take the childish antics so far as to attack whole queer communities in real life is filthy beyond belief. Bi people exist, hi... hello. We like lots of different genders and gender presentations - 'bisexual' means we like "two or more". We're here, we're queer, and we deserve some damn respect and acknowledgement. (And don't be shitty to the Lesbians either?? What a weird, low blow comment that was to see in response to this.)
Every day, I'm glad I left XIV, the toxic positivity, and unbelievably unhinged community that cannot separate fact from fiction behind... but shit like this is a good reminder when I think I miss it.
tl;dr Emet Selch is fictional, so he is whoever and whatever YOU want him to be. He doesn't belong to anyone but SE - and we should be excited to hear about others' ideas and interpretations, instead of "I head canon him as gay, so everyone else in the world is just painfully stupid." That... is a person struggling to separate fiction and reality - Emet isn't real, and you're much too invested in 1s and 0s if you're attacking real world ppl and communities over head-canons.
Live and let live. If you hc him as gay? Great! That doesn't hurt me at all, if I'm someone who prefers to see him as trans. Or bi. Or just 'queer' as a broader label, since he can body hop and all that - those can all co-exist. But the second you start attacking real people over fun, IMAGINARY PRETEND PLAYTIME, you're deeply in need of some time away from fiction, and back in reality.
FFXIV HEADCANONS - The Scions (+ DT Bonus!) Finding Out the WoL Has Had a Crush on Them
(SFW, no trigger warnings)
Thancred:
Smirk.
He’s too experienced a man to let this slide.
An absolute tease.
He knows the game of love and attraction too well; he can play this out for as long as he wants—and he will.
All around, an exciting, adrenaline-inducing, secretive, probably scandalous, & slightly toxic love affair.
Psychologically torturous situationship vibes.
But as much as he plays with your head and heart, he’s always there to catch you in the end.
Estinien:
He keeps a straight face when he finds out, but he wants to Dragoon-jump out of the window.
He’ll keep his composure until it’s an appropriate time to leave the conversation.
He needs to breathe—alone. He’s always been drawn to you, but to describe it as a crush? Well… he sees it now.
Very curt toward you afterward as he figures out his feelings. (Tsundere…)
What could he possibly do to deepen your relationship, if that’s apparently what you both want?
He now seeks you out alone for “platonic” conversations quite often.
Keeps offering to share food and drink with you.
I would mention that he'd kill for you... but he already has.
Eventually, you get the hint that he likes you back; he’ll make a move once he sees confirmation from you.
A bit hesitant when it comes to commitment, but he comes around in the end (the way everyone else expected him to).
G’raha:
How could his hero actually be attracted to him?! This is a dream, right?
Barely maintains composure—cue wrist-wringing and evading eye contact.
Wide-eyed, he has to be excused from the conversation.
Every moment he spends alone in your presence is full of adrenaline and dopamine; he’s dizzy with it and blushing deeply.
It’s impossible not to see that he likes you back—and has for a long time.
His tail and ears are so responsive to your every word and action.
Utterly devoted.
Urianger:
He’s glad you weren’t around when he found out—he was blatantly flustered, and Thancred made fun of him for it.
He regrets not speaking alone with you more often; he seeks these conversations out now.
He is overly generous with you now—his outdated chivalry unmatched, truly overpowered in this era.
He begins to send you regular missives. At first, they are entirely for professional purposes, but they quickly come to contain an awe for everything you accomplish and who you are.
Calls you "my lady/lord".
His observant prose warms your heart.
He makes an effort to always be present when you’re around, even if he’s just quietly in the background.
He’ll probably need you to make the actual first move, but the change in his behavior is extremely telling.
Y’shtola:
Entirely keeps her calm when she finds out—at least on the outside.
She always knows everything, but it’s especially affirming to have proof you feel the same.
You notice she briefs you first now in meetings.
She keeps urging you to rest when you’re not fighting.
She's checking the balance of your aether far more than you'd ever know. Always watching.
You come to share tea and sweets more often.
What is this seductive smirk she keeps giving you?
It’s clear she’s entirely in control.
She's not a telling Mi'qote like G'raha, but her ears spring up just a touch when its your turn to talk.
Tataru:
Absolutely giggling and squeaking when she finds out.
But she’s a confident lady.
She starts making more outfits for you; her special tea gets sweeter, and you keep getting the biggest slices of pastry.
She’s started handling your personal paperwork and finances—not just the Scions’.
You keep getting invited for late-night champagne or tea.
The whole time, she’s looking wistfully, calmly into your eyes—and deep down, you know it’s reciprocal.
Krile:
She does her little giggle.
She’s really very open and mature about it—that’s just who she is.
This may or may not have affected her decision to take up Pictomancy and join you during Dawntrail.
She seeks you out for what seems to be platonic conversation—but why does every invite come with a little wink?
She comes to regularly tuck your hair behind your ears when you're upset by something.
Alisaie:
Blush, then smirk.
Swears she’d never crush on anybody…
Keeps rushing at your enemies for you. She’ll kill anything if it means you’re safe.
“Is that how you really feel?” she teases anytime you give her (constructive) criticism.
Tsundere, but in the way where your idle conversations start to become nagging and teasing to deflect from the actual attraction.
When you finally give her the praise she needs, she looks away and blushes. Then acts as if it must be the most obvious thing that she's amazing.
Alphinaud:
When he finds out, he’s blushing, shocked, embarrassed, and completely speechless.
He always came to you for validation and expertise, even when it was strictly professional. Now, that feedback holds serious weight.
Far too professional and mannered to make the first move with someone so “above” him.
Stuttering, rambling, etc., until it eventually—and accidentally—comes out that he likes you too.
Wuk Lamat:
She’s squealing.
“Oh god, it’s so awkward now. How do I not make this awkward?”
Proceeds to stutter every time she talks to you.
Makes it awkward (endearingly).
You wonder if she’s into you or just feeling awkward because she doesn’t reciprocate.
This leads to a conversation (over tacos & margs, of course) where she just has to spill it all out bluntly & drunkenly.
Big kitty hugs.
You are her world now.
Erenville:
Our emotionless, tsundere overlord.
He sputters a bit when he finds out, but manages to play it off.
Stays coolly in the background of group conversations, but his eyes are always on you.
He teases a bit more—dry, cheeky humor that deflects any adoration.
i like the part of post shb where wol runs into aymeric and it sounds like he just slammed down five cans of monster energy before getting off that airship and offering up ishgard's entire supply of ceruleum
There's this thing that's been on my mind ever since Absolute Tyranny dropped in the Arcadion raids. I keep imagining a scenario where Lyse is watching the WoL's fight with Tyrant on a tomestone phone. Then when the song gets to the "Those who claim liberty/Those who claim revolution/Those who dare challenge me/All will fall to my blade/For your dignity/Bow to our domination/Rebels and libertines/SHUT UP AND KNOW YOUR PLACE" part she just goes completely stone faced. And then it just hard cuts to Lyse doing an elbow drop on Tyrant's spine while "STORM OF BLOOD, BORN OF BLOOD, BLOOD OF FALLEN BROTHERS" blares as loud as possible
Hi I know i haven't sent asks in a while and you usually do the scions but 👉👈 can I get some ishgardian trio (haurche, aymeric and estinien) dating headcanons? Fuck it throw in my girl ysayle too! What are they like as romantic partners?
I'm a sucker for elezen i was DELIGHTED to get this ask, hell yeah! btw, references to sex in this, without detail. i kept it pg13 to be safe :)
Ishgard Trio + Ysayle as Romantic Partners
Haurchefant
congratations you got yourself a man who is utterly ENAMORED by you. i hope you like being showered in praises.
he is your cheerleader and your knight in any capacity. he will listen to your hopes and desires and encourage you onward... but be there for you when you fall.
even if it is something as silly as saving you from a brume rat that made its way into your bedroom, or even if you are just as strong as him, he will protect you, always.
a partnership with haurchefant is heavy with romance, but he is also the sort of man you will laugh with a lot, too. he is not afraid to be silly or extra.
you could almost imagine the type of father he could one day be...
speaking of, there will be lots and lots of intimacy. but not rushed fixes, no. the mating dances and the savored, drawn-out rituals are very important to haurchefant — rose petals leading to the bed, lingerie gifts, foreplay, and exploring with you wherever your fascination draws you.
whether he is near to you or writing you letters from wherever he is stationed for duty, you will never have any doubts that wants to love you forever and ever.
Aymeric
follows the typical trajectory of courtship
it starts with proper dates. dinner together, walks on a nice day, attending an event together, etc. he's courteous, and takes his time to graduate from kissing your knuckles to asking if he may give you a kiss goodbye.
raised by a minor house, he was taught dancing at a young age, and notedly [canonically] excelled at it. this skill will definitely be put to use as he invites you to balls and other such gatherings. he manages to make you feel like cinderella falling in love for the first time, every single time.
there's some practicality involved with aymeric... his job often keeps him holed away in his office. but he can never say no to you spending time in there with him, engaging with a hobby and chatting with him as he works away. on occassion, one of his meetings will take him to another city, which you can come along as well, and marvel at the way Aymeric can command a room. For as sweet as he is, that man is sharp as a spear, strong as stone, and to top it off, confident.
he would never dare neglect you for his work though. he is a planner, and he will always plan sweet little dates and moments to get away together
and at the end of an exhausting day, you can always trust that he will be there with a hot kettle of tea for you both (and his cat) to lay back on the couch together.
Estinien
with estinien, you never properly go on "dates" to discover if you're romantically compatible. estinien doesn't work that way.
instead, you will have spent enough time around him and chemistry will grow, and one day, his heart will be struck, and he will lean in ...
estinien is a laidback, simple lover. he will not be overmushy. every show of love he makes will be precise and full of meaning, though. examples include — leaving a wildflower on your desk when you've fallen ill, or taking care of a chore for you unasked.
where words fail him, actions make up for it.
this man is a wanderer, and i fear he could not be tied down. if you chose not to follow him, you will surely receive letters here and there, and he will bring you back a small, practical gift when he visits, and make up for lost time as he can.
but should you choose to follow, you will be never be without fresh, exciting experiences. picking up and travelling to a new land, settling there a while, then moving on to wherever your wandering hearts guide you.
long nights by a campfire on the journey to your next destination. shopping in markets for local attire to wear. eating foods you have never heard of and meeting new people over a glass of the local favorite alcohol. picking up odd mercenary jobs here and there for gil. knowing you are safe to be wild and free because you have your best friend and partner alongside you.
speaking of wild, this man likes things rough. perhaps it's in his nature, or perhaps nidhogg's influence remains...
he likes to keep physically fit anyhow, bedroom activities aside. you can either watch and enjoy the view, or spar with him. but just know, he doesn't intend to go easy on you!
Ysayle
ysayle is also atypical with dating. she spent so long believing she was shiva, and that her lover was hraesvelgr; it never occured to her to consider the alternative. nor did she have the time.
for all her typical boldness and sharp wit, you will see some new sides of her early on in the relationship as she navigates this uncharted territory, one a little softer and more bashful.
ysayle spends several nights mustering the words to confess to you. her fists clench her skirting when she leans in to kiss you for the first time. she is so overcome with jitters that she cannot help but laugh, before kissing you again.
as she gets comfortable in the relationship, she will get bolder, just how she is in all other aspects of her life.
it might even get to the point where she so-very-lovingly teases you for your shyness with how she is coming on to you.
ysayle relishes tender little moments of peace spent with you; deep late night conversations huddled by a fire, bathing together, stroking your hair, soaking in the warmth of your body as you lay entwined together.
as a partner, she is very diligent in pulling her weight when it comes to any shared responsibility. she encourages you to share in the effort too and to overall be your best self, but never so that she is needlessly cruel, no. she acknowledges the work that you do and is there to support you always.
you're lovers, but you're also a team. like flowers you will grow together and learn to soak in the sun. <3
