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if i look back, i am lost

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Aqua Utopia|海の底で記憶を紡ぐ

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Claire Keane
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YOU ARE THE REASON
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Sweet Seals For You, Always
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@lcstkey
Redoing this post where I’m gonna pin this master-post full of links to my pages; and hopefully, mobile and PC users should have better access to my pages.
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Prompts
About Mooncry
― FFXIV : DARK KNIGHT QUESTS.
a collection of starter prompts taken from the dark knight job quests in ffxiv - there may be spoilers for these quests. change pronouns and gender as needed.
after witnessing a spectacle like that, everyday life seems rather dull in comparison…
even after he took several wounds, he showed no sign of pain - though there was no mistaking the blood.
open your eyes. look. do you see now? do you see?
there's a darkness within us all - nothing dangerous, mind.
now, bear in mind that while the darkness gives you strength, that strength comes at cost.
that is but one sacrifice, though - and justice demands many.
we're not here for her; we're here for you.
fear, pain, rage - that which lies in the deepest depths of our soul makes for a potent fuel.
the first step over the threshold is always the hardest.
but drink not too deep, lest the flames consume you…
those of you who yet live, remember this horror!
punctual as ever, i see.
do not, however, presume the risks to be any less than before.
i want you to kill something for me.
come on, let's get this over with. i know you're not having second thoughts.
i pity the man who dies without scars.
i’ve sins aplenty, aye, but regrets? not so much.
don't pretend you haven't done this before.
strength is pain. strength is suffering. strength is sacrifice.
close your eyes and hold out your hand towards me
listen to my voice. listen to your heartbeat.
breathe deep through your nose - let the air fill your lungs, then let it pass from your lips. slower, slower…
yet no good deed goes unpunished, does it?
to mete out justice, one must be strong - a simple truth which you already knew, of course.
it begins, as always, with blood.
offer yourself to them. they will come.
remember this feeling. treasure it.
it's time to play the hero!
i mean, look at yourself. most of that's not even your blood!
leave it. you've nothing to be ashamed of.
they know nothing of true sacrifice, and are weak for their ignorance.
in sacrifice there is strength. in sacrifice there is liberation.
at the very least, you must realize that you cannot continue to carry all these burdens…
those who have never known true sacrifice quake at the sight of it.
you know i'm trying to help you, don't you? all of this is for your benefit.
you listen, but you don't understand -
you're the stubborn type. i know that.
..never much cared for the ocean, myself.
i kill your enemies. i fetch your things. i do what you people can't or won't do yourselves.
you're helpless. weak. all you do is want and need.
you must see now what it's doing to us… what they're doing to us…
i wish i could tell you. i wish i could make you see.
felt good, didn't it? seeing that sniveling wretch tremble.
…you stand at the precipice, but do not fear the fall.
ask, and we shall quit this place forever.
only when you have renounced everything are you free to do anything.
this could be the greatest moment of our life…
say my name. say it. my real name.
what you wanted was a mentor.
deny me all you want - you cannot deny what we have done.
a house divided cannot stand, you know.
this childish rebellion ends now.
have i not been good to you? have i not given you everything i promised?
you can't really kill me, you know.
they have borne witness to the darkness within us…
wipe the slate clean. forgive and forget!
darkness dwells within us all, but few are forced to confront it as you are.
well? are you going to kill him, or shall i?
this is the part where you beg for your life.
…i pray you do not make a habit of following men plotting to kill you into secluded areas.
mercy, some would call it. idiocy, i name it.
if i have to drown in the abyss to see it done, i will!
..don't be foolish. you've naught to apologize for.
i couldn't tell when it was raining - whether it was day or night…
…it's not a sin if someone made you do it.
..i should've had them cut out your tongue.
am i supposed to be grateful when you come back covered in blood? when i put you back together so you can do it again!?
you drag me to halfway across the world so you can discover a new way to kill yourself, and you tell me it's for my sake!?
she's just a burden to you. so why do you care what happens to her?
…mayhap it was all but a convenient excuse to indulge in vengeance.
i bore that monster into this world!
for everything that you are - that you have done - you are still her mother.
i will follow you to the ends of the world, if i must.
for a long time, i prayed for forgiveness. i prayed you would take me in your arms and hold me as you did before…
is not this world filled with sadness and despair?
i… i will never be a hero.
it is not death itself we fear, but the unfinished story.
it is enough to break a heart... and a man.
i'm only trying to put the fear of the gods into the little shite, but by all means, go ahead and undermine my authority!
yet the brighter the light, the deeper the shadow.
for all your victories, for all your accomplishments, you cannot turn your mind from the failures.
that which was taken has been reclaimed, but we are not yet whole.
no one can accuse you of not giving the man a chance.
do be sure to wipe the blood from your boots before meeting [ name ].
a lie, however sweet, is nevertheless a lie.
fight, if it be your will, and if the gods show you favor, then so be it.
i knew you would understand. how could you not?
life here is not easy, but it is fulfilling all the same.
a swift death is more than that bastard deserves.
pain is all that is left to her, don't you see?
they say the war's over now, but it never ends for people like you, does it?
she is still a good person. and so are you.
can there be truth in a lie.. .and perhaps salvation as well...?
a lesser man would be tempted to forget, but we know better.
it's not as though i threatened to kill every last one of them and burn their village to cinders. not recently, at least.
here you can immerse yourself in the beauty and the calm, and forget the horrors. almost.
how far we have come, you and i.
this pain, this sadness… it is mine to bear.
we have always been apart, have we not?
if the little bastards didn't want their heads caved in, they shouldn't've tried to sneak up on me.
these are your memories, remember?
the point is, deep down, you wanted this.
i saved lives and punished the wicked, and for a time, that was enough.
we have wept rivers for our dead and cursed the gods for their cruelty.
memories can be powerful and painful… in more ways than one.
the little bastard's a handful and a half.
even now, after everything we have done, we can still go home…
it was not mine to take, but i took it.
…what good are prayers to the dead. they have not ears to listen.
how are we to withstand this relentless onslaught which threatens to consume us?
is there no truth but this, that all men must die?
they made their choices, and such are the consequences.
when i have finished, naught will remain of me.
look how he burns with fervor, with desperation, with faith.
he is not the first, nor will he be the last to betray you.
the dead are forever beyond our reach, and we have no choice but to accept the inevitability that everyone we know and love will join them in time… or do we?
for all our faults, for all our failures, we have made a difference.
time and death, our true enemies, need hold no power over us.
i can make a place for you in my world. you need only ask.
you knew from the first that there was only one way this could end.
if you would not forsake me, then of course you would not forsake him.
he is a fool, but he is our little fool.
he's going to get us killed one of these days...but what can i say? i love him. i forgive him.
you are still a good person.
say your name. your real name!
…shall i ask you the same? who holds the reins?
we are complicit, you and i.
can you even remember why you came here?
can you even remember how many you killed? how many lives shattered, how many stories ended?
justice is an excuse. nobility is a lie. murder is murder!
though we are most definitely not without fault, it is this cruel, indifferent world which has made murderers of us all.
this world is brutal, uncaring, without logic or justice…
no justice but that which we make for ourselves!
i'll be damned if i give it up so you can force your illusions upon us to assuage your guilt!
i am not your enemy. not then or now. i will not fight you.
it's never too late to turn back. you are still a good person.
you can still be…a good person…
ours is the greatest lie of all.
so many broken by this world, and then by you.
everything we fight so desperately to protect slips through our fingers…
what remains… is us. only us, and the memory of our sin.
i wasn't about to stand idly by while that imbecile tries to do… whatever it was he was trying to do.
i offer you peace! restitution! a chance to make amends!
when it comes, i shall welcome it with open arms…
again and again and again you kill. do you feel nothing!?
you know my heart! it bleeds like any other!
these scars and sins are ours to bear - not to deny!
no, no, no... that is not how this story goes...
i ask, i beg, i pray, but it never comes…
such is the fate of all who are born - to suffer and to die.
do not seek forgiveness, for it will not ease the burden. it weighs as it should.
no one likes having to say good-bye. but it's… it's a part of life.
i forgive you. i forgive you. i forgive you…
thank you. that is… that is all i ever wanted…
so… this is it. one last parting.
in your darkest hour, in the blackest night… think of me… and i will be with you.
for where else could i go? who else could i love but you?
a man can never truly understand what's in another's heart… and probably not their own, for that matter…
i like you. i respect you. and i'll always be here for you, if you need me.
part of me can't help but think this was all a fever dream.
it's nice to dream of a world without pain and suffering. but the world is what it is, and dreams will only carry you so far.
not a day goes by without your name being spoken, you know.
the pleasure of your company alone would be more than enough.
your destiny was never to remain here, was it? though a part of me wishes that you would…
you will always have a place here, [ name ]. for you are family.
the world waits for none - not even you.
you've an insatiable hunger for it, don't you?
even when you bite off more than you can chew, you refuse to let go.
from the moment i laid eyes on you, i suspected you were a particular blend of impulsive and stubborn.
victories like that are always bought with blood.
being grim and dark will only get you so far, don't you remember?
now, if you'll excuse me, i have an angry girl to mollify.
yet you never were one to let a mystery remain unsolved, were you?
they will tell you who they see, but you and you alone know who you are.
if you find comfort in my words, they are yours for the taking, but that is your choice.
but if you're reading this, then you know how the story goes, don't you?
what will your legacy be tomorrow, and the day after, and in the days after that…?
it never had to be this way. this world is exactly as we choose to make it.
i told you before you know how the story goes, didn't i?
it's been a long, strange journey, filled with all kinds of ups and downs.
i want to believe - i need to believe that this was not for nothing.
i don't know when we'll do this again - if we'll ever do this again.
the little trick you've learned doesn't count, you know.
even if this is our end, it won't change what we had.
i love you more than you'll ever know.
Oh! Oh right yes, of course… paying for the baits, G'raha had nearly forgotten. The moment he’d stepped foot off the airship, the air had a striking sensation of fish and salt. Maybe even some gunpowder and metal? Quite the varying scents that wafted through Limsa Lominsa, maybe that was the reason his tail felt relatively larger than it ever had.
“I should think it a wise decision to ask the locals. Their opinion vastly outweighs what I presume to be a simple guess on my end. Course, I haven’t a clue which bait is superior for these waters, much less which fish we would catch with them.”
Which was probably why he felt better allowing Selena to choose the baits, and buy them of course. They had enough for quite a few fills of bait, and a good steady pole or two.
Traversing up the pathways through the markets, G'raha took note of how many Lominsans would simply gather about the aetheryte. Whether or not they were being entertained or stood there without a care in the world… maybe it didn’t matter. His tail pricked up, ears flicking when he focused on them, then paused.
“Ah, well I daresay that one of these vendors must have a nice fishing rod. Let’s take a look and I can gather some inquiry to decent locations whilst we are shopping.”
He couldn’t help but peek over the edges of the table with his ears shooting straight up in the air. All the various types of bait and hooks, the way the rods hung behind the vendor. His tail sloshed and slithered with interest, near forgetting as to what his task was.
“Oh! By the Twelve, pardon me. A moment.” And then he turned and surveyed just around the two of them, only to find a tall Elezen woman writing on a large notepad. “Excuse me, miss - might I inquire as to what you deem a worthy fishing hole? My companion and I wished to give it a shot, and figure the locals would have some suggestions.”
Costa del Sol? Of all the places…
G'raha thought a moment, would that beat going on a boat? Or would being near the water help ease his nerves for something like that? He turned to look over at Selena. Did she wish to go just on the boat? So many decisions.
The various scents of Limsa Lominsa briefly distract her from the open skies above them. Selena inhales slowly but deeply, taking in the salt, the fish, and something acrid and smoky that makes her nose wrinkle. She glances at G'raha, silently nodding in agreement.
So neither of us really knows the first thing about fishing... The young adventurer realizes, with a profound smile and a giggle escaping her. "Alright, sounds good. I'll handle the bait and my own pole."
Selena briefly glances at the aetheryte behind them, and the thought of attuning to the crystal crosses her mind. She shakes her head before turning toward the marketplace.
It'll reject me as the one Gridania has. Just focus on finding the baits and your pole for now. The adventurer reminded herself as she thoughtfully looked over the various and colorful baits and the poles hanging behind the vendor.
I wonder which ones will be good for catching fish... Selena wonders, spotting a warm-colored pole and briefly asks the shopkeeper to see it. Feeling how light and steady it was in her hands, she fishes her coin purse from her pouch to purchase it from the cheery Miqo'te shopkeeper.
Now to figure out the bait...To think there are so many. The adventurer walked over to another table to look at the bait and the lures. So focused on the selection, she doesn't hear him or notice that her companion has stepped away. Selena picks up a goofy, bug-eyed lure shaped like a tiny, colorful fish.
"Cute..." The young adventurer whispers to herself, deciding to select this lure and a jar of plump worms to purchase from the Lalafell vendor.
"G'raha, I got the...Wait, where did you go?" She turned around to notice that he'd disappeared and began to search for G'raha until she spotted him speaking with an Elezen woman. Selena silently catches up with him in time to hear her recommendation.
Costa del Sol? I think I've heard of that place before, but I don't know much of it other than it's a beach... Selena mused to herself, then quietly spoke up, "Hey, I got the bait, G'raha." She holds up the jar of worms, wriggling about in their glass prison.
"Think this would be enough?"
Take Me Back to Eden - Sleep Token
Nhalmasquerade Event Prompt | Reference
Before the keybearer left her hotel room to make her way toward the Castra Arx, she found herself in front of the mirror to fuss over her appearance. Selena straightened the light-blue mask and tightened the ribbons in the plaited parts of her hair, dotted with forget-me-nots. Her eyes flicker over to the scarring on her right ear.
A symbol of my own foolishness...
Lifting a hand to cover her ear, her body froze, and her chest tightened as she suddenly recalled the battle with the shadow that inflicted the scar. The silver eyes in the mirror were no longer hers, elongated claws reaching over to her. Her fingers remembered the warmth of her blood seeping through her fingers.
Her ear burned as the keybearer stepped away and sank to the floor.
There was no one in the mirror.
"Seven hells..." Selena breathed shakily, "Not today, dammit." The keybearer slowly stood up again, studying her pale reflection. She reached up to her ear and closed her eyes.
Maybe if I mix some concealer with the ointment I use, it would make the scarring less noticeable. Let's try that and maybe loosen the plait just a bit so my hair can cover it, should all else fail. With trembling hands, Selena made the adjustments and breathed a sigh of relief and satisfaction. Okay, that seems to work.
Inhaling and exhaling deeply, the keybearer left the inn room and locked the door behind her. She heads toward Castra Arx for an unremarkable entrance to the Nhalmasquerade and makes her way toward the seating area. There, Selena sits and waits, nervously scratching her right wrist.
There aren't a lot of people here yet, but it's still early...
@sunaerie | Nok'to Cont. from Here
Selena quietly hummed in thought as they both watched the woman in question. Pale eyes narrow, waiting, and then they flicker toward the distance as if trying to catch sight of her friends. Squinting, she couldn't see how they'd hide in the open fields where the damsel begged.
They must be hiding further up the road. To think this type of trap is common here too...Sometimes I've seen others try to spring this trap in the Twelveswood, but most are seemingly wise to it. Well, except for the occasional well-meaning adventurer. Her brows furrow in thought, briefly glancing at Nok'to and noticing his uncertainty.
"No..." The young keybearer quietly shook her head, "I'll fall for the trap on purpose. I look pretty harmless on my own, so I doubt she'll question it. She'd be too 'grateful' that anyone came along to help at all." She pushed herself off the boulder she was leaning on, briefly looking back at Nok'to.
"Just keep a distance and follow until our damsel in distress leads us to their ambush spot," Selena added quietly, before walking over to the poor woman with a smile and a small, shy wave to match.
"Hey, miss, are you having any trouble?"
The perks of having Sel being adopted into found family dynamics is that they can dramatically embarrass her with their antics. @vierandancer @aethericsea
Happy Pride month! I hope everyone is happy, healthy, and safe wherever you are. Please know that you're valid and important. <3
thank you for giving me this hope, at least. — Dancing Green post Arcadion
@moonaerie | Dancing Green FFXIV | Dragoon Quest Starter Prompts
"You're welcome...?" Selena sounded unsure, dismissing the Heartsickness keyblade to offer a hand to pull him up off the training floor. I feel like I haven't really done anything worth his gratitude...
"If it helps...I've kind of been fighting for a...a long while, without feral souls, and I'm not in the Warrior of Light's league either." She began awkwardly, briefly glancing up at the bright-haired Shetona, "You're pretty quick on your feet, too, so I don't doubt that you'll improve your technique with time."
"I have a friend who dances with a troupe outside the Dome, and also fights with dance and chakrams not unlike yours. " The keybearer added thoughtfully, "It wouldn't hurt to ask for tips? Maybe seeing different sorts of dances outside the Dome might inspire something new you can use here."
― FFXIV : PHYSICAL DPS QUESTS.
a collection of starter prompts taken from the physical dps role quests in ffxiv - there may be spoilers for these quests. change pronouns and gender as needed.
wait. you wouldn’t happen to be…
you're just the sort of man i’ve been looking for!
w-wait! i have money! lots and lots of money!
i daresay this is the beginning of a beautiful partnership!
let us commemorate the occasion with a feast! eat, drink, and be merry!
whether or not they were heroes or villains or whatever a hundred years ago doesn’t matter to me.
i can see it now - you and me in the heat of battle, fighting side by side, the picture of courage and camaraderie!
...oh? is the reward lacking? my apologies.
wait… it’s you! it’s really you! you actually came -
nothing for it but to roll up our proverbial sleeves and do the dirty work ourselves!
finish it, you bloody bastard! finish me!
i’ll not let it end like this. i promise.
i have heard this tale before, i know it…
there’s really nothing quite like a hearty meal after a job well done.
i am prepared to fund our activities as needed - no expense shall be spared! none whatsoever!
don’t tell me you’re the little lordling’s newest “bosom companion”?
hate to say it, [ name ], but it seems we’re late to the party.
you poor, daft sod…
unlike you, i’m not all talk.
how much did it cost you to buy his “friendship”? do tell.
when it all goes wrong, don’t say i didn’t warn you…
now then, how much do you require this time? out with it.
that is why you are here, is it not? another handout?
don’t play coy. you’ve never been any good at it.
i have enjoyed a relatively privileged upbringing. privileged... and unbearably boring.
for all the good they had done in life, none could deny the chaos they sowed in death.
when you wanted to hear tales of adventure and heroism, i couldn’t help but share with you the ones nearest and dearest to my heart.
even if the tales were a little embellished over the years, they were rooted in truth.
she was and will always be a hero to me - and to you, i hope.
don’t just accept what others tell you as good and true.
listen to your heart and decide for yourself.
the way she carries herself even now bespeaks a confidence i cannot help but envy…
i wish you were all here with me… but i know it’s better that you’re not.
we have a score to settle, you bloody bastard - and this time, i’m ready for your tricks…
if i’d only been this strong back then, they’d still be alive…
the lone wolf just had to do it on her own terms…
i’ll tell you all about it after we kill this bloody bastard, aye?
i’m sorry for trying to go it alone.
why, pray tell, did you even try to do something so foolish?
i survived, they didn’t.
i swore vengeance, but had no idea how to go about pursuing it.
i never intended to keep it all a secret. it’s just… you never asked, and since i’d rather not talk about it…
easier to live in the moment, you know?
are we or are we not comrades? through thick and thin?
these bonds of fellowship between us must come before all else. otherwise, they may as well not exist.
you say the thought of losing us pained you?
what of our feelings? what of our loss? what if we had not arrived when we did!?
you've saved our lives more times than i can count - how dare you refuse to let us do the same!
ignorance is not bliss, let me tell you!
honestly, i don’t know why i ever placed my faith in you.
i think you may have been the only friend he has had for some time…
call me a coward if you like, but my cowardice saved my life!
good luck, friend… but have no doubt that you’re going to your doom.
why are you here? don’t tell me you came for me?
i hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for all the things i said.
i’ve regretted my behavior ever since the day we parted ways. it was stupid and nonsensical and utterly pointless.
i’m not sure i could even tell you why i did what i did…
[ name ], my friend, my partner - i trust you are ready?
i struggled to conceive of how even to broach the subject…
i will do whatever must needs be done to see this through to the end!
he said he found my industriousness… endearing.
i’m sorry you’re dead but you don’t have to be such a bloody arse about it!
i should’ve never betrayed your trust. never again, i swore. never again.
that’s what it means to let someone into your heart, knowing full well that nothing lasts forever.
what else could we do but offer up that tiny remainder in a final, futile effort?
even knowing, deep down, it was worth but a few moments more…
you gave me fear…and that fear gave me strength…
it’s not right. it’s not fair.
heroes sacrificing themselves for nothing. becoming villains. being forgotten…
she was hero to me too, and it broke my heart to know what had become of her…
at least i can take comfort in knowing she can finally enjoy a long rest.
that… that is so preposterous a tale that i have no choice but to assume it is true.
i would like to think that if you were in mortal peril that i would fly to your side without hesitation…
if i were challenged to offer up my life for others, without even knowing if it would amount to aught… i doubt i could rise to the occasion.
i cannot recall a time i have felt happier and more alive than when i have traveled with you.
you have countless other journeys ahead of you, don’t you?
for you are destined for greater challenges - whereas i am suited to rather more pedestrian affairs.
i can scarce begin to imagine the horrors you have witnessed there.
we remain very much in the dark as to the precise nature of the threat we face.
despite our differences, we cannot abandon our kin to such a cruel fate.
they walk this path of their own free will.
together, we will weather this storm, and usher in a new age of harmony.
‘tis a daunting task that lies before us.
should the talks deteriorate and things come to blows, i cannot be seen to bloody my hands.
prolonging this conflict any further will lead only to needless suffering.
you would call this a blessing!?
what happiness can be found in giving over their hearts and minds to a false god?
if i didn’t know better, i’d think you’d been leading us for years.
they sound more like mortal enemies than old companions…
watch as i get him talking without so much as lifting a finger.
do you have any words for your men on the eve of battle?
there it is… the dread beast i saw beneath the waves…
oh, for a blessed moment, i felt the faintest touch of hope…
you tell then that we have no future…?
when no path to victory can be found, flee and fight another day.
to defeat your enemy, first you must know your enemy
why’d you have to go and bloody whistle…
quite the view, wouldn’t ye say?
i often come here to admire the sea.
rush in blindly, and it will go as poorly for you as it did the first time.
forgive us for what we must do.
it is not her - it is not. remember this always. you must.
i will not ask you to shoulder the burden of matricide.
when the time comes to strike the final blow, i will do the deed.
you’ve grown into this role quite well, haven’t you?
you mustn’t sully your hands with the blood of your mother!
i prefer to think of myself as… fashionably late.
not to worry - unlike you, i’m not a baby.
i will not ask for your forgiveness.
but no more - i would break the cycle.
i daresay we have a lot of talking to do as well
we can take pride in the respite we’ve won, but we must never forget those who could not be here with us to enjoy it.
let’s hear your excuse - and it had better be a good one.
but i’ve got you now, and i will have satisfaction!
there i thought you were too much of a coward to face me in battle.
any parting words before we go our separate ways?
speaking of wine, i’ve always preferred the older vintages.
slipping away again, are we? you are a creature of habit.
i resented you for it at the time, you know.
i'm a creature of whimsy - a man who lets the tailwind carry him where it will.
if you hadn’t been there for us both, i don’t know if i could’ve pulled the trigger…
it is clear we are united more by our similarities than we are divided by our differences.
i fear this may be a hunt she cannot undertake alone.
no doubt she will be grateful to have someone familiar with our city and customs at her side.
what’s more, eerie accounts have begun to circulate amongst the residents.
now, what say we see if there’s any trouble afoot?
you dare add insult to injury by calling her a liar!?
if anything out of the ordinary has occurred, no doubt they’ll be aware of it.
the waters will flow red. of that, there can be no doubt.
if you ask me, they’re the ones thirsty for blood…
if we do this, we won’t just be starting a battle - we’ll be starting a war!
i say we give the bastards what they deserve!
they’ll go for their neighbor’s jugular to save their own skin.
for a blessing, all has been peaceful.
‘tis all we can do to hold onto peace while it lasts.
she was fearsome, that one, right up until the moment i drove my blade into her back.
exceptional talent? exceptional egos, more like…
just once, i wanted to be acknowledged. i wanted to feel pride…
more importantly, i apologize for deceiving you.
i thought with someone as strong as you at my side, maybe…just maybe, i could avenge her.
i thought you might resent me for lying to you.
what i’m trying to say is… i can’t do anything on my own.
i’m reckless, and impulsive, and… i’m just really glad to have you by my side.
i’m sorry, you must be completely bewildered.
all my life, i thought this was simply how nature intended for me to be.
i don’t know if i can properly describe this feeling to you.
finally, i don’t feel like a burden.
i feel as though i have just woken from the strangest dream…
in the shadows will you scream, yet none will hear.
i've long since left that life behind. (from kijin!)
@sunaerie | X'Kijin FFXIV | Dragoon Quest Starter Prompts
The keybearer wasn't certain when the odd expressions and looks given to the taller miqo'te began. She only began to notice it when she swiftly arrived in Gyr Abania after hearing of Specula Imperatoris. Thank the Twelve, everyone's okay, for the most part. I'll have to remember to inform Tataru later...
While it never went beyond these expressions, her ears sometimes caught a rumor or two about X'Kijin's origins, and she noticed the strange looks whenever he walked. Rumors she fully intended to ignore, having sensed that their intent wasn't malicious. They mostly came from other miqo'te and even some of the Ala Mhigan Resistance.
Those stares reminded her too much of the cold expressions that the people of Gridania, that Carlisle, gave her. They set off a strong sense of unease that churned the pit of her stomach, an irritating itch on her scarred ear, and her shoulders stiffened. The keybearer turned her head away whenever she noticed, so they wouldn't notice her gritting her teeth with frustration, knowing she could do nothing.
Selena couldn't rest that night and had silently slipped out to roam Ala Mhigo's streets without letting anyone know. The keybearer had figured that if she wasn't going to sleep, she could put her restless energy into patrolling for the Shadows she knew best. She also didn't expect anyone to come searching for her, much less X'Kijin (Did another Scion send him?), but it was also then that she worked up the courage to ask as they were walking back to where the other Scions were staying for the night:
"Why do they always look at you that way?"
Perhaps it was the heavy weight the question carried that first startled him and turned his head so swiftly, she nearly thought it'd twist off. It didn't help that the keybearer whispered it and let the wind carry it to his ears so she could maintain her distance for the other's comfort.
Or that her eyes, in that moment, reflected the moonlight off her pupils, not unlike that of a beast, shining blue-white. A trait that the keybearer seemingly appeared to be unaware of. One that prompted immediate inquiry from the other.
"A question for a question." Selena swiftly countered, sharply turning her head toward him with a frown. What did he mean by 'shining'? Does he think there's something wrong?
She knew she shouldn't be obligated to receive an answer. Selena never needed to hear a long-winded one and would have accepted anything, even a half-truth or a lie, if the subject was sore. But the keybearer received one, a short sentence that he used to live here in Ala Mhigo, which was followed up with the statement that he's long left that life behind.
Appearing satisfied with his answer, the keybearer doesn't pry, having sensed a sore subject. Now to hold onto her end of their unprompted bargain. She can hear Baba Yaga scolding her in her head for thinking of trying to avoid answering the question.
"I'm not...I'm not sure what you mean by shining, but I can see fine if that's what you mean?"
DOOT DOOT
Snacking on the Chocolate Decorations with the OHNOS
Questionable eating habits aside, Selena would rather be poisoned than starve. Having experienced starvation on multiple occasions in her life, she did not have the luxury to be picky with her food.
So what if she has a tummy ache? The keybearer knows she can handle a little food poisoning.
"S'chaotic, but it works."
@vierandancer | NHM TAKING IN THE ATMOSPHERE Prompts
"Mhm, I think the colors are rather pretty." The keybearer responded, smiling up at the vibrantly hued banners as she walked beside her friend with a subtle spring in her step. Despite the sharp, tall exterior of the stone buildings, the colored glass and the banners impressed her. To her, the people of Nhalmasque appeared to be taking steps to rebuild their homeland, taking what Garlemald had built and making it theirs and theirs alone.
"I didn't know glass could be crafted in so many colors, much less put together in so many patterns," Selena added, humming excitedly, "They must look beautiful when the sunlight catches them just right..."
'Tis too bad that the event is happening at night... She mused to herself, then curiously glanced toward Meiko, "Have you already gotten a mask, or were you planning to purchase one here? Oh, what about your dress?"
NGC 7023, Iris
SENTENCE STARTER | TAKING IN THE ATMOSPHERE
"I almost missed the entrance behind all those banners."
"It’s strange how much warmer this concrete feels with the paint."
"Did the locals really weave all these tapestries themselves?"
"The glass in this window catches the light in a way I’ve never seen."
"It feels like a celebration, but the architecture still feels like a fortress."
"The view makes the climb worth it!"
"I feel like I’m walking through a kaleidoscope."
"I like the contrast. It’s honest."
"I didn't think gray concrete could look romantic."
"It’s chaotic, but it works."
"It's strange to think Garlean soldiers stood here not long ago.
"It’s like they’re trying to paint over a bruise with flowers."
"I wonder if the King Regent picked these colors himself."
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