for the sky

xiv blog (icon by @sheepskin )

[lysanderfels]

[pinned]

~ Welcome to my sideblog for my Warrior of Light, Lysander Fels ~

For writing, my catch-all tag for fics written by me and by others is here. AO3 has my longer, ship-focused works.

I'll also try to collect screenshots here, and lore-dumps here. I won't generally tag NPCs or ships on original posts unless I have some particular reason to do so. Everything else will remain an untagged mess until I decide otherwise. 👍

As for Lysander himself, here's what you need to know:

He is a geologist.

[lysanderfels]

Sylvien, that's...not really helping.

[lysanderfels]

following approximately 3 people in the fandom and *still* seeing the nuclear discourse is very funny but anyway my beloved bisexual hc is Hien :)

[lysanderfels]

people always talk about [toad voice] all hail the sultana! but there are so many other gems in the remembrances speeches. toad goes on to yell the time is nigh! and some guy in limsa just kind of clears his throat and grunts for several seconds straight.

[lysanderfels]

cute :3

(Irienne isn't in Stormblood yet so I had to make my own yugirienne)

[lysanderfels]

And sometimes, the wood might love you back.

[lysanderfels]

🩷❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

[prompts-in-a-barrel]

"You don't know me. I'm not the same person anymore."

"That's okay. I'll get to know you again."

[californiannostalgia]

[rowanul-tyr]

a lil thing for @lysanderfels, prompted by the make it rain art this morning. :)

There certainly isn't anything quite like the Gold Saucer, Hien must admit.

He's not sure that he has ever seen so many bright lights in one singular building before, nor has he struggled to hear things over music like this before. But Hien can see why all the children sprinting through hallways are so overjoyed—it's as if their imagination has come to life to entertain them, let them forget the ills of the world if only for a little while.

He can certainly understand why Master Manderville would invite them to see the wonders he has built, though hopefully he will not take too much offense if Hien would rather meet elsewhere next time for business.

He can't help the laugh that bubbles up when he turns to see Lysander's expression as they step off the airship that bore them here. "Surely the wonders of the Gold Saucer are not deserving of such disdain."

Lysander's frown softens a hair, but he still looks displeased. All he says by way of explanation is, "…It's loud."

"Aye, it's close to deafening, is it not?" Hien lets out a breath, before peering around the corner to see what appears to be the main thoroughfare. "Well, I hope that this shall be a simple meeting—so we need not stay overlong."

They pair fall into silence as they approach the front desk of the Gold Saucer, and it is not long before they are whisked off to a quieter corner upstairs to discuss the business matter Master Manderville had in mind.

The meeting does take longer than Hien might have preferred—this was meant to be the final meeting regarding some minor trade agreements for Doma and the Ul'Dahn Syndicate, but some of the finer details that Hien thought to have already been ironed out are brought back up for further discussion. Lysander, who had mostly come along at Hien's request, stares out into the distance as the talks continue.

But eventually, the meeting ends on the good terms Hien had been hoping for, and he gently sets a hand on Lysander's shoulder. "I hope we've not bored you to death."

Lysander only lets out a long-beleaugered sigh when Master Manderville is out of earshot. "Unfortunately I think the volume of sound would force me to remain on this mortal plane. Though it seems things ended well?"

"Aye, they did! For that we can be grateful." Hien tugs Lysander to his feet, smiling warmly as the Elezen leans down for a kiss. "Shall we be going, then?"

At this, Lysander blinks, expression one of surprise. "You don't wish to see what else is here?"

"I admit to some level of curiosity." Hien's brow quirks. "But I got the distinct impression that you'd rather be elsewhere."

"Well…yes, I certainly cannot deny it." Lysander tilts his head, looking a bit more sheepish now. "However, it is your first time at the Gold Saucer, so I am braced to stay as long as you like."

Hien opens his mouth to reply, but the words don't come. He should not be surprised when Lysander is willing to endure things he dislikes for the sake of his partners, but it still manages to sort of take the wind from his chest.

So instead of pushing too much, he pulls Lysander down for another brief kiss, murmuring, "Just long enough to see the sights properly. The noise is a bit much."

Lysander nods, pressing their foreheads together for a moment, for two, before letting Hien take his hand and lead him on.

[lysanderfels]

finished a little SMN cross-stitch of my wol in time for the anniversary of the day I started playing :)

[lysanderfels]

too many posts about multishipping on bsky got me thinking about Lysander's ships and how I'm actually a bit undecided how the polyamory shakes out long-term... in that after Hien gets involved, and he and Aymeric both assure Lysander that they don't want him agonizing over feelings he might develop for anyone else (romantic or just. horny.) I'm not actually sure what he ends up doing with that. For a while, they're all he needs--when he's in the thick of star saving, he isn't really looking for sex because sex isn't something he usually wants as a distraction. By the time he's really stressed, it's already too late, and what he'll want is someone trusted to take care of him once he's through it all. But by DT those extremes have evened out a little, and there's a bit more space for him to consider if he...wants that, while he's out on his travels. If the casual flings that were the norm for him five years ago are going to be part of what he has with his established partners now.

Didn't meet anyone who was *really* his type in DT, and EC might swing back too far into the "stressed" zone, so maybe it's a moot point. If Vana'diel is canon for him (might be? more plausible than Arcadion at least) he probably thinks Alxaal is kinda cute and earnest. Hm.

[lysanderfels]

ooooh I love being able to wear my geology glam in msq now because Lysander's field of study feels so *relevant* now. (7.5 spoilers with a bit of wol focus)

(pretend he has an archon mark here he reeeeeeallly should)

I don't know how much Halmarut knows about the wol, I don't recall if she said last patch, but either way, I feel like she could probably just look at Lysander's face during her explanation and be like, "You understand, don't you?" Because as a geologist, much of his study *is* focused on that time millions of years ago before any people lived, and to some extent, thinking constantly about those timescales forces one to come to terms with the fleeting nature of human existence, and the inevitability that someday, it *will* all be wiped away.

Nature will take its course, a system out of equilibrium will tend towards equilibrium without another force holding it back. What prideful folly is it to claim it just shouldn't happen to *you*? The nod to Zenos was so choice, because for Lysander, narrow-minded selfishness is where they mirror each other more than anything else. Despite his comprehension of the situation, he still values his fleeting life greatly. He sees the logic in damage control vs naive heroism ultimately doomed to failure.

I also think he's surprisingly neutral on the topic of whether or not Venat knew, because I think he almost feels like *he* should have known. It just makes sense that a star forcibly broken apart and *held* that way would tend towards mixing back together again.

Anyway, depending on how good of a plan we come up with, Lysander does have the capability to get real nihilistic going forward. Not Winterer rejoining (although there's a big part of him that sees the advantages of that plan), not fighting back against Winterer rejoining, but enjoying what time he has before the inevitable end. And he'd gotten so good at playing the hero, too!

[lysanderfels]

i have never read a rot13 post in my life

[lysanderfels]

I'm intrigued by evolved mode so far but I am realizing today that it....might sort of dash my hopes for more job-specific lore on existing jobs... if the basis for all skills is acquired at level 50 and the rest is mostly new effects/potencies, it doesn't really seem like there would be quests about that, aside from what's already in the game for existing jobs. It was already sort of a pipe dream considering that role quests seem like a solid fixture for now, and maybe better job identity in combat will make up for it in a way, but...a little sad. I miss having some special story just for my job. Still interested to see how smn looks though! Just kinda..mixed.

[lysanderfels]

“You can’t.”

Estinien almost does not recognize the voice, thick with emotion, though no one but Lysander stands with him on the dark bluff, and it is Lysander who steps forward to grasp his arm, gripping into the chain mail with unexpected strength. Even by naught but the light of the distant stars, Estinien can see how his eyes glisten—and blinks at the sight, for Thancred had earned only that blank expression, the Warrior of Light’s supposed stoicism, when the truth of his sacrifice had been revealed.

“You know I must,” he says, firmly, though not ungently. Lysander’s fingers tighten.

“What am I to tell Aymeric?” he rasps.

“That I did my duty and guided you onwards to your goal. Our goal.” He lets out a breath before adding softly, “You’d best be glad it is not he who is here.”

Lysander’s expression twists, jaw clenching, tears trembling at the corners of his eyes—but then he drops his gaze, unable to deny his own relief.

They stand like that for a moment, Lysander still clutching his arm, Estinien not quite having the heart to shake him off. In the stagnant silence of this place, their breathing is the only sound; Lysander’s hitching and unsteady, while Estinien feels oddly placid.

“You know how I hate this,” Lysander accuses at last, and there is no question of what he means—comrades charging off to heroic sacrifices, leaving him with fewer by his side. The Warrior of Light loathes to fight alone.

“Aye,” Estinien agrees. “Hold fast to that feeling; it may well be what brings us back.”

Lysander lifts his head, but now the glint in his eyes has hardened as he meets Estinien’s gaze—tears crystalized to adamant resolve.

“It will be,” he vows, with far more certainty than Estinien himself can truly muster. But he has seen Lysander carry out impossible deeds before, and if he is demanding his friend’s faith, there is little Estinien can do but offer his own in return.

[lysanderfels]

sylvbeatin rambling (relationship dynamics, before and after the First)

Thinking about the age gap, thinking about the mentor/apprentice thing, thinking about the workplace romance... and about how Sylvien absolutely, undeniably has never had anything like a father figure and does crave that sort of support, and Beatin who despite being a bit awkward does absolutely like to care for people (for children, for Gairhard, for his apprentices) even when he doesn't always know the best way to do it. And I'm not exactly trying to be subtle about the fact that this is, in fact, important to what they have together, in that Sylvien needs and wants someone to look after him, and Beatin wants someone who won't brush aside his worry, and it isn't really happening in a kink way aside from a somewhat inevitable undertone (though I'm not exactly opposed to it either, I just can't think of a way to write it that doesn't sound terribly anachronastic to me lol. another kink they're not doing on purpose but are doing nonetheless). Anyway Beatin is not exactly unaware of this, it is an unvoiced truth of their dynamic where he is willing to be that mentor/authority/father figure for Sylvien while still also being his sexual/romantic partner and he isn't exactly uncomfortable with it (except maybe when someone calls it out) but he does, in some way, expect Sylvien to grow out of it. Half of him expects that this will mean Sylvien grows out of wanting *him* also, and will move on to someone closer to his age, someone on more equal footing with him. Maybe more than half. So the smaller part of him expects Sylvien to grow and still to want him. Less likely, he thinks, but it's alright, as long as he can help him get where he eventually wants to be.

But it's like...Beatin does like him like this, even if he also believes it will/should be temporary. Sometimes he thinks he should find Sylvien's immaturity, and his constant need for reassurance, exhausting, but he doesn't. He likes to indulge him because he knows no one ever has, he is happy to be for him what he needs right now. Selfishly, deep down, he does like someone who needs him, even if he does not want Sylvien to *always* need him quite to this extent.

And this is why it's so startling when Sylvien spends seven years on the First. Because for Beatin, in the blink of an eye he goes from the highly dependent version of Sylvien, who even while no longer technically an apprentice, still *needed* him, to a Sylvien who...doesn't, actually. And that does force him to face that truth he didn't want to fully acknowledge, that while he hoped Sylvien would grow to depend on him *less*, he still....liked being depended upon. And Sylvien, now much more *aware* of this aspect of their relationship, has to just kind of agree that, yeah, that isn't him anymore. In some ways he wishes it could be! He would have stayed with him like that for a little longer, too, if he had had the choice. He didn't ask to be torn away like he was. But even so, he can't pretend that they can just go back to being the same as they were. There can be elements of it, but always in a self-aware sense, a cheeky version of what was once very much not an affectation but a sincere expression of what they were to each other.

Sylvien has grown in the way Beatin hoped he would, but Beatin wasn't there to see it, and adjust to it. So they don't really know how they...fit, now. They'll come to love each other again because I'm completely useless about committing to tragedy, and it does turn out that as independent as Sylvien has become, he is still just fine being cared for, and isn't about to run off just for the sake of it. And maybe if they never really properly finished that conversation just before their first Starlight together..... it's time for Sylvien to really show what he loves about Beatin aside from that care, because there's plenty, and I don't think Sylvien was ever very good at saying it aloud.

[lysanderfels]

letting his mind wander