#autumntide writes

[autumn-magnolia]

Autumn occasionally sends postcards back to his love when travelling around. This Valentione's Day, after helping out with the festivies, he decided to snap a quick picture to send to Alphinaud with a card and a pressed flower: "Wishing you were here."

[autumn-magnolia]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV Rating: Not Rated Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Alphinaud Leveilleur/Warrior of Light Characters: Alphinaud Leveilleur, Alisaie Leveilleur, Warrior of Light (Final Fantasy XIV), Thancred Waters, Scions of the Seventh Dawn (Final Fantasy XIV) Additional Tags: Named Warrior of Light (Final Fantasy XIV), Fluff without Plot, Slice of Life, Aged-Up Character(s), Married Couple, Viera Warrior of Light (Final Fantasy XIV), No Time Bubble, Found Family Series: Part 1 of Autumn Through the Ages Summary:

"We should really have a proper Eternal Bonding ceremony you know." Autumn throws out casually one early morning as he sat at the Last Stand, coffee mug in hand, watching the hustle and bustle of people preparing for the Final Days. The Warrior of Light turns to look at his companion, blinking at the fearful expression on Alphinaud's face. "What?"

"I forgot to tell mother and father that I eloped."

Autumn has a suggestion. Alphinaud has a slight issue with said suggestion.

[autumn-magnolia]

Not my dumb ass, sitting here laughing at my own writing.

[autumn-magnolia]

FFXIVWrite 2022 - Day 19

For the FFXIV Write 2022 Challenge. For more information click here!

Prompt | Turn a blind eye Warnings | None Parings | Alphinaud/m!WoL (kinda, sorta) Notes | If this feels half finished… it’s because I ran out of ideas.

It started off innocently enough.

Autumn had a habit of pocketing anything he happened to be carrying if it were a small enough object and he thought he could get away with it. Usually it was quills, or a piece of paper.

Sometimes, Thancred watched as Autumn chatted up an Ul'Dah merchant with a charming smile while a few of their smaller fruits made its way into the Viera's pockets. Later on, those apples were handed off to the orphaned Ala Mhigo children dwelling on the outskirts of the city. Thancred would always look the other way, or on occasion, would provide the distraction while Autumn sourced lunch for them to eat.

It wasn't that the Scions were exactly hurting for gil. The thieving pair simply found it amusing and a way to keep their skills sharp.

Somewhere along the line it turned into a game. Autumn and Thancred would compete to find the strangest things to lift. A field report from Minfillia's desk. A candelabra from Fortemps Manor. The Knight Commander's favourite potted plant.

(How Autumn managed to pilfer that while talking to Aymeric, Thancred will never know.)

There were rules to the game, of course. No stealing items of great import or high value. No targeting merchants or stalls that look like they're already struggling. And always return acquaintances' items the following day after the gloating and comparisons have been completed.

One day Alphinaud found out about their game. The scholar was awfully mad about it, ranting and raving about how it was improper for a Scion to steal, that they should immediately return their stolen goods. Autumn's response was to smirk and hold up a pair of rather expensive looking under garments. "So I suppose you'd want this back?"

The rest of the Scions found out eventually, whether through their items being sheepishly handed back or outright catching one of the would-be thieves in the act. And just like the game, it became a habit to ask either party "What did you get this time?"

(Out of the group, with Estinien being predictably the most annoyed, it was surprising to find out that Y'shtola was more than happy to let her belongings wander off, knowing full well that it would be returned. Eventually.)

[autumn-magnolia]

FFXIVWrite 2022 - Day 16

For the FFXIV Write 2022 Challenge. For more information click here!

Prompt | Deiform Warnings | None Parings | None Notes | Vague spoilers for Trial 3 of EW.

At the edge of the universe, Autumn Fraldarius stands in defiance of Fate. Once again, the world demanded more than he felt able to give. One lone soul to guard humanity’s future. Autumn was tired.

He was tired of fighting, tired of marching forward. Tired of being the last man standing. Watching his friends sacrifice themselves for his sake, so that he might press on. Bringing them back with the help of his old friends, only to send them away at the pivotal moment to spare them their fates a second time.

He can not lose. He will not lose.

Standing on the back of the man who calls himself his mirror, Autumn stares down the Endsinger, defiance and rage burning in his chest as dynamis swirls around him, shielding him from what she intended to be his end. The prayers of those who love him the most, those who wish for nothing more than his happiness, bolster him as he raised his axe up high. “Round two, Meteion!”

This time, he is the Primal. This is his victory. And he will claim it.

[autumn-magnolia]

FFXIV Write 2022 - Day 14

For the FFXIV Write 2022 Challenge. For more information click here!

Prompt | Attrition Warnings | None Parings | Alphinaud/m!WoL Notes | Ahahaha it’s catch up time. These are gonna be out of order.

It started with food.

A mug of warm soup pressed into his hands along with a surprisingly fresh piece of bread and a sheepish smile. Jullus stared down at the offering, before glancing up only to find the Warrior of Light already moving along with another cup. The Garlean watched as Autumn's offers were rejected by his fellow countrymen, some of them unnecessarily unkind. The gentle smile never wavered, not until he'd finally palmed off the food to a passing Alliance member, flashing brightly in the darkness and fading just as fast.

Then, it was acts of service.

Autumn couldn't hammer a nail into a piece of wood. It was quite the revelation. Jullus snorted into his hands as the warrior tried vainly to assist in building a support frame. The Viera was quickly shooed away before he caused any lasting damage, and instead was delegated to lugging supplies to and from various points around the camp. He took on the task with vigour, cheerfully waving people over as his cart got taller and taller. And yet... he never misplaced an order. Nails and hammers found their way to the right person, paperwork was signed and handed off before anyone else could ask after authorisations. When queried, Autumn just shrugged and smiled. "I was the Scion's designated Thing Finder, and they needed a lot of things to be found."

Finally, one day...

“Good morning!”

“Hello, how’s your wife?”

“Oh, you’re working today? But what about your back…?”

His countrymen started to respond. Not all of them, there were a few die-hard imperials who still glared as Autumn wandered by, chatting animatedly with a few Garlean engineers as they tried (and failed) to explain how cerulean works. Jullus felt a small smile grace his lips as he watched Autumn’s bashful smile as he admitted that he’d been lost in the conversation several minutes ago, laughing and playfully shoving a young man while they bantered.

“Impressive, isn’t he?” Jolting upright, the teal-haired male whirled around, coming face to face with the Leveilleur twins’ knowing grins. Alphinaud gestured proudly to his husband, who was now engaged in a snowball fight with the children. “Autumn has a way of winning people over, no matter how hostile they are at first.”

“Stubborn is what I’d call him, brother.” Alisaie grinned, nudging her twin playfully. Alphinaud only rolled his eyes.

“Yes, well his tenacity has won us over many allies. I’m not about to complain.” Jullus was quick to tune out the two as he turned back to the Warrior, only to find him looking back. Autumn’s grin grew wider, and he waved enthusiastically. A sigh left his lips as he watched the taller male approach, resigned to his fate of being Autumn’s new work buddy for the next few hours. He wasn’t completely unbearable to be with, now anyway.

[autumn-magnolia]

FFXIVWrite 2022 - Day 13

For the FFXIVWrite 2022 Challenge. For more information, click here!

Prompt | Confluence Warnings | Vague death mentions, 6.x Spoilers Pairings | None, maaaaaybe a vague Emet/Azem/Hythlodaeus if you squint. Notes | Once again, there was an Idea. But it got buried under all the spreadsheets and payroll I was doing at work.

This was it. Journey's end. 

He'd lived a good life, a surprisingly long and fulfilling one, at his soul mate's behest. Spending his days chasing the next hunt, the next battle. His nights spent with loved ones, reminiscing on days long gone past. 

He remembers the beginning, when he was barely old enough to comprehend the world, freshly run from home in search of greener pastures. Struggling to earn a living as a lowly no named bard, he turned to adventuring to line his pockets. 

He remembers being thrown into events that rocked the Source and all of her Reflections. So young and naïve he was, thinking and believing he could save every single damned soul that crossed his path. He was wrong, and it was a lesson he never really learned, the hurt and betrayal almost as raw and insistent as the failure that hung over his head for each life lost.

He remembers his found family, the ones who chose him despite his initial insistence to walk his path as Her Chosen alone. Coming to their aid again and again, regardless of whether or not he had the strength to stand. He would find it, he would find within himself the will to keep fighting when everyone else had long fallen. And, in his hour of need, they repaid his love and kindness in full, praying desperately for his safety.

He remembers, at the edge of the universe, when he thought himself well and truly lost, his new-old friends who never truly forgot him gently nudged him along a path he thought hopeless. They reminded him of who he was, what he stood for once, and what he still stands for that day.

It's those two friends he sees again when he finally opens his weary eyes, warm smiles and arms open to receive him. Welcome back, they murmured, their beings merging with his in quiet triumph, a promise fulfilled.

[autumn-magnolia]

FFXIVWrite 2022 - Day 12

For the FFXIVWrite 2022 Challenge. For more information, click here!

Prompt | Miss the boat Warnings | None Pairings | None Notes | intentional lower caps. I tried a thing.

sitting in limsa lominsa's bustling aetheryte plaza, autumn sometimes dreams of what ifs.

what if he never left home? he could have been a dreamweaver, teller of stories and record keeper of his clan's long and mysterious history. settling his kin around the fire, enchanting the younger kits with fantastical heroic deeds and reminding the elder of what used to be.

what if he were just another run of the mill adventurer? wandering around with nothing but the clothes on his back, his trusty bow by his side (no need to pick up an axe if he had no one to save). taking on whatever leve he fancied (or that his no name status had access to), following the winds to find his next fortune and camping under the endless stars.

(granted, autumn still does this, just with trusted companions at his side to share the warmth)

what if he hadn't been the blessed champion of light? no higher power guiding his fate, no one to tell him that he was mankind's last and only hope, and perhaps... maybe those he loved wouldn't have to die.

(fate is inevitable, he remembers bitterly, as the song of despair echoes quietly in the back of mind)

what if... he wasn't a shard of the traveller. 

here his mind grinds to a halt. unwilling, or perhaps unable, to imagine what his life would mean without the gifts, without the promises of a reunion fifteen thousand years in the making and yet still unfulfilled-

stop. a voice murmurs, soft like the breeze that caresses his cheeks. the ship has long since sailed. don't leave your heart on the shore.

a shadow falls upon him, and autumn cracks one amber eye open to see the smiling face of his beloved.

"Sorry I'm late, my Sun. Shall we go?"