5.3 SPOILERS !

𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐗𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒  

[starled]

azem really said “not today” to an entire volcano because it threatened some grapes they really liked.  iconic.  we stan.  

[starled]

will sell what’s left of my soul for a verse / thread based on this . 

[starled]

              it  is  easy  to  see  —   the  difference.    despite  concealing  attire  and  crimson  mask,  even  fickle  traveler  understands  it  is  now  another  who  bears  the  title  of  Elidibus.   an  odd  sight  to  discover  ‘pon  return  after  decades  of  absence,  but  not  surprising.  if  anything,  judging  by  what  glimpse  of  identity  they  can  espy,  they  are  elated.   sun — touched  paragon  know  this  one,  the  posture  and  unspoken  language  of  his  body.   they  know  the  man  behind  newly  appointed  duty  and  would  recognize  him  anywhere.   o’  how  joyous  to  see  his  success.   and  yet  regardless  of  desire  to  speak  true  in  support  and  congratulations,  elder  kin  approaches  with  merely  the  familiarity  of  colleagues.  

           ❛ emissary, ❜    thus  hails  golden  shepherd  ‘pon  their  approach  with  even  tone,  offering  but  a  polite  smile,  so  unlike  a  soul  known  for  its  wildfire.   indeed,  it  takes  great  effort  to  maintain  an  air  many  of  their  colleagues  would  find  much  more  appropriate  than  the  usual  eccentric  cheer,  but  they  manage,  with  exception  of  subtle  mirth  ‘neath  vocals.    (  how  fortunate  their  joy — ridden  eyes  are  cast  in  shadows  of  own  mask  )    ❛ might  I  steal  you  away  for  a  moment ? ❜    as  though  pleasantries  were  redundant  —  after  all,  their  prolonged  absence  and  sudden  returns  were  a  normal  occurrence  for  the  convocation,  no ?   hands  fold  at  their  back,  curious  :  has  the  mantle  changed  you ?  

@dutysend  /  ❤  / ACCEPTING .

[starled]

azem uses Soft Forehead Touches™ as signs of affection.  she’ll always greet her loved ones with one after coming back from her travels.  thank u, that’s the post. 

[assassin1513]

✨Skyrunner ✨ gifs made by me :)

[starled]

another plotting excerpt.

For all the popularity and the love she received and gave, she was a fickle being, even among the Convocation.  Though they perhaps knew her more, none truly did beyond being this bright flame.  Hythlodaeus and Hades were part of only a handful of close friends who knew her beyond the title.

Azem's amicable and outgoing nature was not a facade, but neither was it all there is to her.  I haven't decided entirely on her pervious occupation yet, beyond the likely direction of trinkets / jewelry, but all that just became forgotten by the people over the eons.  Promethea became Azem; there was no personal life anymore.  Hades actually saw a side of her few did, even if it was subtle.

I feel like out of the Convocation, she was one of the most approachable personally, without the corner of paperwork.

[phantomemes]

[twicebled]

phantomemes‌:

starters  /  prompts taken from various characters starring in the game   fire emblem : three houses .  feel free to change pronouns  /  tenses as necessary .

“  feel free to say hi whenever you like  ”

“  don’t hold back for my sake  ”

“  you think I’m so clumsy that I need someone to watch over me ?  ”

“  you act like you’re full of regret  ,  but I know you don’t really mean it  ”

“  you actually look more handsome to me with honesty on your face  ”

“  don’t be ashamed of crying  ”

“  could you keep quiet for a bit ?  ”

“  you’re actually kind of amazing  ”

“  do you mean to imply you have no intention of acting a bit more respectably ?  ”

“  stop acting so nonchalant about getting hurt or killed  ”

“  naive and uptight is no way to live your life  ”

“  you’d better watch that temper  ”

“  i am absolutely disinterested in spending any time with you  ”

“  your lack of self-awareness is deeply troubling  ”

“  I’ll just be straightforward about taking advantage of you  ”

“  when will you tire of challenging me in pointless competitions ?  ”

“  you expect me to believe that ?  ”

“  i’ve had enough of your foolish antics  ”

“  i wish you would not sneak up on me like that  ”

“  before you reprimand me  ,  take a moment to consider your own failings  ”

“  it is like hearing a snake sing an aria  ”

“  am I hearing a deathbed confession ?  ”

“  i never have any idea what you’re talking about  ”

“  don’t walk away when i’m talking to you  ”

“  you’ll be the death of me for sure  ”

“  i do not intend to die  ”

“  i can’t believe you put yourself at risk for my benefit  ”

“  i don’t think i’ve ever seen you smile  ”

“  i do not desire your gratitude  ”

“  you’re surprisingly strong for how slender you appear  ”

“  perhaps i was flustered needlessly  ”

“  i had forgotten how charmingly ethereal you can be  ”

“  you’re going a little overboard  ”

“  you have shaken me to my very core  ”

“  so this is what death is like  ”

“  if you get sick of me  ,  i’m sorry ahead of time  ”

“  i’m embarrassed just thinking about it  ”

“  you’re like a little brother to me  ”

“  spending the rest of my life with you doesn’t sound so bad  ”

“  if our roles were reversed  ,  I don’t think I’d be able to forgive you  ”

“  you actually hate me  ,  right ?  ”

“  you haven’t stabbed me yet  ”

“  i want to be more like you  ”

“  i actually envy the size of your heart  ”

“  i don’t think you can solve all your problems by throwing a few punches  ”

“  there aren’t a lot of people like you in the world  ”

“  sorry I’ve been so oblivious to your needs  ”

“  sometimes you just can’t afford to wait around for someone else to notice ”

“  yesterday’s enemy is today’s ally  ”

“  you have to abandon old feuds  ”

“  learn to protect yourself before trying to protect me  ”

“  i always trust that you’ve got my back  ”

“  if only people could be more like flowers  ”

“  if you promise not to resort to violence  ,  I’ll do whatever you want  ”

“  i can’t stand the sight of me either  ”

“  i would be even more impressed if you hadn’t been screaming the whole time  ”

“  i did what was necessary to get you to comply  ”

“  you have so much power in you  ,  just waiting to be unleashed  ”

“  i’m hopelessly terrified of you  ”

[starled]

talking to lynn about hades and azem and she made me realize that the moment promethea deserts the seat of azem, she becomes a disgrace for abandoning the highest honor available to any ancient.  no one wants to restore any of her shards back into the office post-sundering & the fourteenth seat is considered forgotten because of the shame now clinging to it. 

this is also a big part of why promethea avoids her brethren post-sundering.  she absolutely stands by what she did & her stance has not changed, but she understand what her actions meant and the message it sent.  she is not welcome among them and she respects this. 

[starled]

azem being disguised as a common adventurer and making friends with the warrior of light prior to the events of ARR & them getting along so well, but then events of the MSQ unfold and azem begins to grow more distant and miraculously disappears whenever the ascians are directly involved.  their good friend becoming ever more the mystery, until eventually it becomes apparent why.  the broken trust and sudden uncertainty about anything they’ve ever done; whether it ever had meaning or if they were simply stringing the warrior along. 

though also the potential of them having to inevitable interact with / be in the same room as an ascian without being recognized.  part of them wants to argue with all the passion they had eons ago, but instead they just become quiet.  they can see the change, what the years have done to their kin. 

i just crave the idea of azem making such effort to do their part for the common people without becoming a hero or be put between this new life and their broken brethren but landing amidst all of it anyway.  that they cannot run forever.  they will have to content with their loved ones again one way or another. 

after all : azem always comes home. 

[starled]

today’s thought : what if chocobos were azem’s concept & they were always supposed to be able to fly ( & swim ) despite their comparatively small wings, to make a point of how there’s always more to something than we expect and that strength or ability is not measured by appearance. 

generally just.  creations that subvert expectations to make you keep an open mind and look at things from a different perspective, just as azem does throughout their travels. 

[starled]

I love Azem, the Fourtheenth Member of the Convocation.

[starled]

me, thinking about the potential for the convocation to have seen one another as close family and everything that entails, from arguments over more mundane things to soft moments and the occasional shenanigan you’d expect from families, especially sibling figures. 

days where some of them, particularly azem when returning from their journey, will drag their more workaholic brethren to take a damned rest and just hang out.  have dinner together.  some friendly debates, maybe a few games.  brainstorming concepts for the fun of it.  azem telling stories of their journey. 

thing is, even if azem did not get along with some of them, they still loved their fellow convocation members and people as a whole.  they had such a unique way of seeing it, always being away for so long.  it allowed them to truly understand and cherish what they have. 

[starled]

❝ ‘morbid curiosity’ is a wonderful way to describe how i feel about you. ❞ [ from m'hilo! ]

@audaciis​  /  MEME  / ACCEPTING .

             ❛ morbid ? ❜    thus  singular  word  they  echo  with  lightest  mirth,  subtle  rise  of  white — clad  shoulders  giving  away  barest  hint  of  surprise.   an  aptly  fitting  descriptor  in  relation  to  spoken  idiom,  yet  not  much  expected  to  come  from  one  such  as  he  :  golden  boy  with  sun  and  sky  alike  in  his  eyes.   how  vibrant !   but  appearance  often  deceives,  they  know.   are  your  shoulders  heavy,  little  songbird ?   does  your  back  ache  from  the  burdens  you  have  been  made  to  carry ?   he  bids  the  unknown  to  relinquish  their  secrets  with  nay  question  spoken  —  it  is  unnecessary,  the  inquiry  is  received  all  the  same.  

      ❛ i  digress. ❜    and  the  unknown  deigns  to  answer.    ❛ my  presence  must  be  an  unpleasant  enigma  to  any  adversary  of  my  kin,  particularly  one  in  your  position, ❜    words  woven  with  patience,  naught  but  understanding  amidst  serenity.   some  might  think  them  cautious  in  face  of  the  famous  ascian — slayer,  but  have  they  any  reason  to  be ?   golden  paragon  wonders.   it  would  surely  make  for  a  most  poetic  turn  of  fate,  a  tale  any  bard  would  enjoy  telling.  

            ❛ but  mayhaps  i  could  satisfy  a  portion  of  your  morbid  curiosity, ❜    beloved  traveler,  a  curiosity  of  their  own  sparks  ‘neath  collected  facade  and  head  inclines  with  interest,  voice  light  —  hopeful  at  the  prospect  of  recounting  a  tale.    ❛ if  you  have  a  mind  to  share  the  particulars  with  me ?  i  suspect  it  pertains  to  many  a  subject. ❜

[starled]

here’s a smol starter call !   length & verse will vary.   multis specify unless you’re 100% fine with anyone.  the meme is also still open ! 

[starled]

FFXIV 5.3 SPOILERS AHEAD !   heya !   kasz  here  with  another  impulsive  choice.  this  is  a  ( side- ) blog  for  my  experimental  interpretation  of  Azem,  also  known  as  the  14th  member  of  the  Convocation  of  Fourteen !   It  is  very  low  maintenance,  but  if  you’d  be  interested  in  interacting  &  help  me  explore  this  character,  give  the  blog  a  follow !  ❤  ( i follow back from @twicebled​. )

[starled]

this post got kind of away from me and i still don’t know if it’s coherent because I rewrote it so many times but.

tentatively, her name is promethea.  i am not entirely certain on this yet; i’ll test it out and see how i like it. 

in short : azem is comfortable with any pronouns and is introduced with they / them, whereas promethea is most comfortable with she / her but not opposed to others.  what someone knows her as depends on when and how the person met her.  close friends and ( most ) fellow amaurotines will know her as she / her, whereas new acquaintances or those only knowing her as azem will be familiar with whichever pronoun they assigned them ‘pon first meeting. 

a bit longer : azem introduces themselves with they / them.  they are someone a great variety of people wish to rise up to become, an adventurer so many are inspired by and look up to, and azem chooses to reflect this with their pronouns.  you can use whichever you like.  among her people, when interacting with others as a member of the convocation, the figure of guidance and authority to their people, you will mostly hear she / her or they / them either because they were known as promethea before or from their introduction.   he / him is mostly the result of bystanders and word of mouth amidst the younger generation and other races. 

promethea mostly identifies with she / her.  in private moments with close friends, when personally addressing promethea regardless of azem’s garb and title, and before she took the 14th seat.  some might even alternate, using she / her only when specifically addressing promethea as her own person.  this can be either akin to an affectionate gesture of a friend or a presumptuous offense depending on the intention. 

however, it is all very nuanced.  the line between azem and promethea is thin ( you take the title, you become the title ). as a whole, she accepts any pronouns because of how intertwined she is with the duty of azem, but might correct you if addressed as anything but she / her after offering her true name. depends on her mood.

as a result of all this, with many people and situations using different pronouns, it varies what a bystander would know her by.  i would like to think that sometimes there were those who mistook azem and promethea for separate people. 

when writing, I’ll try to stick with they / them for Azem and she / her with Promethea, plainly spoken, to avoid confusion, but I already know that I am liable to mix and shift with context and prose.  if it’s ever confusing, let me know !   you are free to use any, and so is your character !  

[starled]

this person gets it .

just this thought that.  it was such a normal thing for azem to be gone for a long while, but they always returned.  you knew they would.  then the final days happen, they desert their seat and disappear, no one knows whether a crucial part of them survived, but still they hoped.