#castthemintotheabyss

[autumnslance]

oh my god for the ship ask meme CAN I CHOOSE ONES WHERE I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SAY uhhh. okay how do we feel about: estinien x ysayle; wol x minfilia; wol x thancred ;p

Estinien X Ysayle:

It shouldn’t work, for various reasons. Not the least of which is how cruel he is to her, and how aloof, for so much of the roadtrip. She’s just as traumatized as him, but still manages to express herself better and care about other peoples’ feelings…which might be where things start to come in, as it’s the Ice Maiden who is one of the warmest friends the WoL has.

Estinien isn’t as “tough guy” in other translations as in EN, but he is still the man who canonically didn’t learn his comrades’ names as a temple knight, until he met Aymeric and they survived and killed a dragon together. Also he has no hobbies. But the friendships formed on that roadtrip are a core part of Heavensward, and the understanding Estinien and Ysayle come to about Ishgard’s history and their beliefs is a huge part of that. There’s a decent age difference between them–she’s 24, he’s 32–but they’re both adults and shaped in similar ways by the terrible things they’ve suffered.

I’m actually very fond of this ship–either platonically or romantically–and it’s obvious how much she meant to him; not only how she came to help at the Final Steps of Faith, but the flowers the WoL finds at Azys Lla in their journey of remembrance, last seen in the final cutscenes of 3.5 when Estinien slunk off. Or in his Stormblood short story, and what he named his set of armor (interesting parallel to what he renamed his spear…).

I’ve read a few steamy ExY fics, and a few where he’s mourning her and what could have been if he weren’t such a stubborn, emotionally-stunted ass. The tragic aspects of it work for me, though AUs where they get to be together are a pleasure.

WoL x Minfilia

Another tragic one now. Among my friends who do ship their WoLs, there were Concerns pre-Shadowbringers before we knew the deal with Ryne, because it IS a popular ship for those who recognize Minfilia is a decent character shortchanged by ARR (*cough* Sorry, I have Feelings).

My own WoL has a more good friends/sisters vibe with her (and Ysayle, for that matter) given the “no one else Gets this Chosen of Hydaelyn thing but you.” But for those who do ship it romantically, that is definitely grounds for great star-crossed romance, as duty to Hydaelyn and how destiny plays out for Her Chosen works, what with having to save worlds and all.

I wanted Minfilia to come home so badly; I’m OK with how things turned out, though with the uneven, rushed writing of ARR and her put on the bus at the end of it, I feel she became a plot device more than a character. So I can’t get my head around a romance with her for my own characters, but can certainly see others falling for her, cuz she’s actually a really good leader and person, with some hidden depths hinted at in many quests and particularly her short story.

So yeah. Tell me you ship your WoL with Minfilia, and I’m for it. I’ll also bring you hot cocoa and fuzzy blankets, you poor nerd.

WoL x Thancred

OK. So, y’all know I’m mad about this Damned Rogue and my own WoL. Because here’s the thing:

Yes, he’s a favorite of mine, as he is a character archetype I enjoy and hits a lot of tropes I like. I am a fan and he is my disaster son and I swear to Gods, SE, don’t you dare, he has scared me enough this expansion let the man rest and have some nice moments with his new daughter. HOWEVER.

Thancred’s also the expected ship. Let’s be honest: if this were a Bioware game? He’s the Alistair*, or the Kaidan. The “Typically Good Looking Companion you meet early in the game and form a quick connection with.” Yes, he’s super competent, witty, kicks butt when needed, gets in all sorts of trouble we have to get him out of…but he’s also convenient. Unlike some other popular ships, Thancred’s (nearly) guaranteed to be at the WoL’s side as a fellow Scion. There’s more opportunity.

So it’s an easy ship, but that doesn’t make it bad! On the contrary, it’s a lot of fun and makes a lot of sense to me–more than some of those others, actually, as any Scion ship works well thanks to time and proximity to the WoL. Well, when the Archons aren’t being sidelined in earlier expacs to nerf the WoL/Scions, anyway…

Still. I’ma read lots of WoL x Thancred fics and fret my own isn’t original enough/too much like so-and-so’s, or people will dismiss it as “just another Thancred ship” but given how folks seem to react when I write anything remotely shippy (or am prompted into doing so, you fiends), I objectively know I’m probably safe on that. But, y’know, writing anxiety.

I just enjoy the dynamic–and I admit, in my DA games? Alistair all the way. Also Cullen in DA:I, another example of the trope and the boy’s been there since Origins. Heck, even way back in the original KotOR? My Revan romanced Carth, the first permanent companion. I never said I was immune to the “Typically Good Looking Companion you meet early in the game and form a quick connection with” trope!

–

(*so then my mind goes “so is Y’shtola the Morrigan?” And I can’t decide if they would love or hate that comparison, if they’d instantly hate each other or if they’d end up drinking tea and talking about about magic and their witch moms for hours, it’s a toss up)

[dragons-bones]

smash or pass: raubahn

“If you had asked this five years,” Rereha said, “the answer would definitely be smash.”

“We grew up in Ul’dah,” Synnove drawled. “Gladiatorial bloodsport is always popular with the masses, and the top gladiators are celebrities.”

“We had posters. And of course Synnove’s got a thousand years of Ala Mhigan cultural conditioning tell her ‘excellence in martial traditions equals hawt.’”

Synnove aimed a kick at Rereha without looking. Rere spun out of the way with a cackle.

“Now, however,” said Synnove, “we, well. Know him as a person and not some distant public figure. He also exudes...” She frowned thoughtfully, thinking, and looked down at Rereha. “What was the phrase you used?”

“Dad energy.”

“Yes, that.”

“Makes it weird to eye his biceps. Or his thighs.” Rere sighed in disappointment. “Damnit. So, in conclusion: mutual pass.”

~

Smash or Pass, with Synnove and Rereha

[aethernoise]

@castthemintotheabyss replied to your post After the first night of Eden I’m ¾ on shafts,...

Did you break into tears when Blue Fields started playing because I did.

@zenathered had hinted at it earlier in the day saying something about “a particular song playing in the base camp area” and I was just like... if it’s Blue Fields I’m gonna go feral. It ended up instilling in me a great sense of peace though. Sounded like home. And what a fun new arrangement.... Soken continues to be a god. 

What ACTUALLY made me internally foam at the mouth was Force Your Way, though, because that’s always been my favorite boss theme. Being able to rock out to that made all of the dying much more fun.

[thegildenheart]

What is your favorite final fantasy?

This is a really tough one, because it’s a big toss-up between Final Fantasy V, and Final Fantasy IX. I always lean one way or the other, but right now it’s V.

Gushing below.

Final Fantasy V was a game I played in my late teens, years and years after it had been out. I played the Gameboy Advance version, and later on a fan translated SNES one (ssh). I absolutely fell in love with Faris as a character, and the job system - a system I would grow to adore for many games to come (looking at you, FFX-2, Tactics and pre-role pruning FFXIV. I miss Cure on PLDs). Spending hours leveling jobs on each character to make the right combinations to tackle very difficult dungeons and bosses was a treat for me, on top of genuinely likeable and down to earth characters. Plus, it has Krile, and Krile is a darling.

Final Fantasy IX was my third Final Fantasy, having started on VIII, then VII. I adored the more traditionally high fantasy setting compared to the previous two I’d played, then the characters. Vivi is why I love Black Mages so much, and why I must always have a steppled hat on any BLM glamours I run with. I have my gripes with VII, so playing IX after that was a real breath of fresh air. It felt like an adventure, one that took itself seriously but wasn’t afraid to goof. Oglops!

I revist both frequently and it’s really hard to choose between the two really!

Thanks for the ask! <3

[questir-a]

GASP another pose prompt?! would you pretty please draw A3 for eirlys and estinien? if you would be so kind thank youuuu <3

@castthemintotheabyss | couples meme (no longer accepting.)

i got a little too overambitious with estinien’s armor (*ﾟｰﾟ)ゞ i hope you like anyway!

[kollapsar]

Thank you to @castthemintotheabyss for commissioning this lovely character for a speedpaint! It’s been a pleasure! <3 || Commission info // Patreon

[goldbasar]

002 | Ysayle

002 | Give me a character & I will tell you

YSAYLE DANGOULAIN

How I feel about this character:SHE’S MY FAVORITE FEMALE CHARACTER IN THIS GAME, period. I adore her background story a lot and wish we could’ve dived into it more! She was an amazing asset to the HW journey and I loved seeing her forge bonds with Alphinaud and Estinien, they were unique, a growing respect for each other that was not seen until later nor spoken out, but so important and clear by the end.

All the people I ship romantically with this character: estinien/ysayle

My non-romantic OTP for this character: ysayle + alphinaud, ysayle + marcechamp

My unpopular opinion about this character: none comes to mind

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon:A BETTER ENDING. I ACTUALLY STILL DON’T. think.she.should’ve.died. and alright if that was to be her fate, but the lack of her presence between her leaving with the heretics to her sacrifice was really lazy writing to me. It’s like she was written out so that we can focus more on y’shtola and the missing scions again already. I know they were trying to wrap it up as “making amends” to it at the time, but the explaining and emotional impact was missing, it just. felt upsetting to watch (though the animation was beautiful). she deserved better than that, as a main character of the expansion. Another thing I would’ve loved to see is more heretic activity prior to 3.0, as in. WHAT BAD THINGS DID SHE DO IN ORDER TO REACH HER GOAL. what did she do for her believed “greater good”? I wanted to see her being more cruel at times, so that even though she was an ultimately “good” character (very grey! I love it), we would have seen more heretic establishment, more dravanian worshipping, more of YSAYLE’S OPINIONS and IMPACTS on the ugly side of the heretic life.

my OTP: estinien/ysayle

a headcanon fact:imagine ysayle as a very stubborn tailfeather girl after she opened up, and people taking a liking to her for that thickheaded yet compassionate soul. imagine Ysayle having nightmares of her flight out of the western highlands during the calamity every now and then. Give me Ysayle having mental breakdowns about her deeds pre!3.0, ABOUT HER CRIMES; and only having herself to talk her back into it in order to end  the suffering of a thousand years.

[autumnslance]

2 and 7 for the otp asks thing please!

2. How many and what colours are the blankets they like to snuggle in?

Aeryn’s more of an “unnecessary number of pillows” person, but one large, fluffy blanket is pretty great for snuggling. Hers tend to be various shades of blue, as a rule. I don’t see Thancred caring overmuch about type and color, so long as said blankets are available and comfortable, so mostly defers to Aeryn’s choices.

He has tossed in a few different colored blankets to mix things up a touch, though, and see when she notices. Sometimes he insists more than one blanket is necessary; one for laps and one around shoulders, if spending an evening curled up for reading.

7. Who is the one who makes their partner laugh so much that their face hurts?

Probably both of them to some extent, though for Aeryn it’s mostly unintentionally. Thancred however, has told stories and jokes to try to make her laugh, especially if things are rough for her, or if he’s just in a particularly cheeky mood–

–that happened a lot more often when they were simply friends before the Banquet, though through Stormblood and Shadowbringers, a bit of that’s come back now and then. She goes with it, but also watches to make sure he isn’t covering for himself again.