Choosy, expensive and rude.

They/ them. 29. Side account for virtual photography. Please don't reupload my pictures. Main: https://merlgeim.tumblr.com/

[grymkoena]

Ghost of Yōtei

[grymkoena]

Final Fantasy XIV

[OC: Styrmwyda Merlgeimwyn]

[grymkoena]

Final Fantasy XIV

[OC: Styrmwyda Merlgeimwyn]

[grymkoena]

Final Fantasy XIV

[OC: Styrmwyda Merlgeimwyn]

[grymkoena]

Where Winds Meet

[OC: Hespera]

[grymkoena]

Where Winds Meet

[OC: Hespera]

[grymkoena]

Where Winds Meet

[OC: Hespera}

[grymkoena]

Final Fantasy XIV

[OC: Styrmwyda Merlgeimwyn]

[grymkoena]

Final Fantasy XIV

[OC: Styrmwyda Merlgeimwyn]

[grymkoena]

Resident Evil: Requiem

[grymkoena]

Resident Evil: Requiem

[grymkoena]

Final Fantasy XIV

[OC: Styrmwyde Merlgeimwyn]

[grymkoena]

Final Fantasy XIV

[OC: Styrmwyda Merlgeimwyn]

[grymkoena]

Hii!! I'm the anon who sent that ask about Atsu and Oyuki earlier, and I just need to say thank you sooo much for answering so thoroughly. All your explanations and everything you said about them resonated with me so well, thank you for sharing your insight!! ♥ I wholeheartedly agree that there is nothing "motherly" about their relationship. Again, please correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've seen, the devs have never even spoken about Oyuki being a mother figure to Atsu, this interpretation came solely from some players (mainly I imagine because of their age gap); all that the devs have said is that they meant to portray Oyuki in a way that would evoke memories of Atsu's mother for her, in major part through the music ofc, because they all play the shamisen, and that's how they wanted to connect these three characters. But when they speak about Oyuki's connection to Atsu, they talk about their shared trauma, how both of them were victims of Saito, and how Atsu would be able to relate to Oyuki in that way. And as you said, I also understand how some people might interpret this as motherly. But again, as you pointed out, nothing about how Atsu and Oyuki behave with each other indicates a motherly or familial dynamic. Honestly, in my opinion, it's quite the opposite; with their very obvious flirting and the amount of emotion during their scenes, when I look at this kind of dynamic that they have, the way they talk and act with each other, to me, what does feel weird is to imagine this in a motherly light, you know? In short, I don't think the developers and writers would have been "careless" to the point of creating a dynamic that can so easily be seen as romantic, if their intentions were set in Oyuki being a mother figure to Atsu, do you get what I mean? I'm very glad you pointed out how Atsu never treats Oyuki like an authority or parental figure, and in turn, Oyuki never treats Atsu as someone who would need to be mentored (many people bring up the fact that Oyuki teaches Atsu her skills as a shinobi, but that is not the same as a mother figure mentoring someone lol, I never quite understood why they bring that up). But anyway, you made some really good points. I hadn't realized these details about how they treat each other! And what you said about Atsu finding this feeling of safety around Oyuki, I agree, and I think that's such a beautiful side of their dynamic.

As you mentioned too, their scenes by the end, when Atsu rescues Oyuki and says "let's go home", and also the very final scene, with the two of them pretty much raising Kiku together lol. I also don't think there are many other ways to interpret all of this without it being romantic. And I'm so glad you pointed that out too, because as I said before, I was mostly wondering if I was interpreting things correctly, you know? If the feelings between them, the immense care, the love that they seem to develop and have for each other were really there, and not just something I was perhaps making up in my mind loll. Because I can't see them as anything other than two people who, despite all they went through, irrevocably fell in love with each other. And again, since it's been said that there's no outright romance for Atsu during the events of the game, I just needed to know if I was interpreting things correctly or not. Thank you for being so kind. And yes, I absolutely love your stories, you write Atsu and Oyuki so, so well. This is my official request for more. <3

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me like this as well! "Two people that who despite all they went through, irrevocably fell in love with each other" is I think, an excellent summary of how I view Atsu and Oyuki and the story of ghost of yotei.

I'll maybe return to writing for them one day, for the moment I feel like I said the things I wanted to say about them. I have a BUNCH of fanfics to catch up on, I am more of a reader than a writer, truth be told (once I have a bit more free time again). I've seen some lovely works on here and Ao3 and maybe if I think of something interesting, I'll return to the world of ghost of yotei one day :)

[grymkoena]

hii, sorry to bother, I just really love your pictures of Atsu and Oyuki, as well as both stories you wrote for them (the first one being an absolute favorite of mine!!). But, since I haven't played the game myself yet (I only watched the story between Atsu and Oyuki, I love them), I wanted to ask your genuine opinion on their relationship. I've seen people call it familial/motherly, and the developers also say that there's no outright romance for Atsu during the events of the game (which is fair, considering what she's going through during it). But, and pls correct me if I'm wrong here, I've also read that the devs intentionally left the relationship between them ambiguous and open for interpretation, only calling it a "deep bond"; which leads me to believe that yes, the devs are very much aware of the chemistry between them and the hints for a future romance were indeed intentional. Anyway, that said, again, what is your genuine opinion about Atsu and Oyuki? If you've played through the game and seen everything between them, do you see an intentionally built "romance", or the start of one, between them? Do you see this deep bond and care that they have for each other? I'd love to hear your thoughts if you're okay to share them!! (Truthfully I'm just looking for validation loll, that I'm not just making things up when I see the romance and chemistry between them :'))

Good morning anon!

I think you already said a lot of things that describe my understanding of them and their canon actions within the game very well. While the devs for obvious reasons left their relationship vague, what we undeniably have represented in the game is two people that meet under difficult circumstances who are immediately drawn to each other, finding security and companionship with each other (flirting and you don't even have to squint for it). What I think makes them so special is that even after Atsu learns the truth of their shared past, she at the same time cannot deny the bond that they already have grown in such a small amount of time.

I see a lot of discussions (or discourse) about how Atsu should have taken her revenge against Oyuki and about how some people did not understand how she could forgive her. What makes this revelation Atsu has, so much more painful and heartwrenching is that she realises that Oyuki was there during the night of the burning tree, but in the present time, she is someone Atsu feels reliant on and safe around. In my eyes, she is willing to forgive her eventually (and for some people unexpectedly quickly) because she needs whatever feelings of security and openness Oyuki offers her now. She cannot help it. She knows she probably should stay mad longer and enact her bloody revenge but she just cannot do it because she can't lie to herself that she feels nothing for Oyuki like that. The truth is too obvious and crushing.

Since the game draws similarities between Atsu finding safety and comfort in the music her mother played and Oyuki's music evoking a similar kind of safety inside of her, I can see why some people would interpret their relationship as "motherly". I can see where that might come from but I do not share that view. Atsu does not treat Oyuki like an authority or parental figure or even like someone significantly older commanding respect. In my eyes, Oyuki gives her a feeling of safety, home, of adventure and a life worth living. She wants to canonically share a life with Oyuki and when she thinks about a future beyond her revenge, Oyuki naturally fits into that vision, seen before the revelation scene when they talk about traveling the lands together and seen when Atsu eventually rescues Oyuki from captivity, asking her to go home together.

Similarly, Oyuki has treated Atsu as an equal from the very beginning. She does not patronise her or belittle her or treat her as someone inexperienced, even when Atsu acts without thinking. Atsu offers Oyuki a chance to really be herself without having to hide anything, while Oyuki is intuitively able to see through many of Atsu's seemingly rash emotions or decisions and understand them for what they truly are, without chalking them up to Atsu being young and someone who would need to be mentored by a "motherly" figure. I think they made a clear distinction here between the two things, by letting them interact as equals who are both deeply flawed but click together like pieces of a puzzle, being genuinely good for and with each other.

At the end of the day the devs left it up to our interpretation but what they undoubtedly put into the game very explicitly is two women who deeply care for each other, who felt an instant connection, who risk their lives for each other and who can be themselves for each other without compromises. I myself view this as deeply romantic and I find it interesting to think about how they'd overcome deeply ingrained insecurities both have with each other.

I am personally very happy about how they presented this complex relationship in the game, they gave us some absolutely beautiful moments and left me with a deep rooted hope that both of them will be able to have a fulfilled life together, despite everything.

I could yap about them all day, but I hope this roughly explains how I view them canonically in the game and the conclusions I drew myself. Thank you so much for reading my stories, I am not a writer and my English isn't the best so I am very happy to see that so many people enjoyed them.

I hope you have a beautiful day!!!

[grymkoena]

Final Fantasy XIV

[OC: Styrmwyda Merlgeimwyn]

[grymkoena]

Hitman