#howling rain

[autumnslance]

(@driftward) Send-a-heart? How about three? 💘 fake relationship / mutual pining / dared to kiss, 🤍 kiss at the wedding / milestone, 🖤 kissing while crying / goodbye kiss / desperation

Some bots are menaces. 3 short scenes, what finally came to mind, not maybe what's expected in all cases:

💘 fake relationship / mutual pining / dared to kiss

The Imperial soldiers were close, having taken note of movement in the alley.

“Swiving—Can you follow my lead?” Iyna asked quietly.

Valdeaulin frowned. “I think so—”

“Then push me against the wall—quick!” she maneuvered herself into position.

He hesitated only briefly, dropping his staff to the ground before doing as she asked, standing close, hands on her shoulders. As the first soldiers came around the corner and shone their light down the alley, she almost startled him by laughing.

“Darling! We’re going to be seen like this!”

“Who’s there?” A soldier demanded.

Iyna pretended to let out a giggly little shriek of surprise. “Looks like you were right, dear,” Valdeaulin said a little too loudly, trying to affect a slightly-drunken stagger while pawing at his partner. He blinked at the Garleans. “Oy, we’re havin’ a moment, here!”

“Ugh, bloody savages,” the soldier grumbled. “Get back to your homes, citizens.” 

“Unless you’re willing to share,” his partner said just loud enough for them to hear as they began to stagger together down the alley, Iyna “accidentally” kicking the “stick” on the ground ahead of them, the Garlean’s light having already turned away.

“Really?” the first soldier said as they moved on.

They sighed in relief. “That was a little too close,” Valdeaulin muttered. “We need to get back to Severa and the others.”

—-

🤍 kiss at the wedding / milestone

“And now, by the grace of Halone, and in the Light of the Crystal’s Blessing, I pronounce you husband and wife!” Comfraire decreed, smiling.

Emelia laughed as Corran dipped her into a passionate kiss, the few gathered friends cheering and laughing with them, colorful spring flower petals falling around them in the soft, warm winds of Coerthas.

—

🖤 kissing while crying / goodbye kiss / desperation

“Go go go!” Howling Rain shouted as the debris from the moon exploded onto the battleground. He tracked Dark Autumn, her long-legged stride taking her from the field; fast enough? Twelve, he hoped so; he had sworn to his cousin he’d watch out for her girl. This was the best he could do now.

He lost sight of Dark, which meant she had no sight on him, and he finally allowed himself to slump and then fall, the wound on his side from that imperial halberd bleeding heavily.

“Howl!” Dancing Lily crawled toward him, one of her legs mangled by magitek. He reached out, hauling her closer as soon as he could grab her armor.

There was an odd second of silence as Dalamud pulsed, fire running up the artificial slides to let loose whatever was inside.

Dance tried to staunch the bleeding on his side, weeping.

“Hey, pretty lady,” he said lightly. He tucked his hand under her chin, making her look up. His own face was wet, thinking absurdly how she would never dance again, even if they had the Spinner’s luck in getting out of this hell. “I love you, Dance.”

Sound returned, drowning out her response, but he didn’t need to hear it when he saw the shape of the words in her mouth. He leaned in to kiss her one last time as the moon exploded and fire rained down.

[autumnslance]

🕯 (For Dark)

“While I adore and learned much as a girl from my eldest brother, in truth my teacher was our uncle, Howling Rain.

“I say ‘uncle’ but he was really Mother’s cousin, though they were as close as siblings. Howl ran his own free company, a small mercenary unit working across Eorzea. When I was young and wanted to be an adventurer, my parents convinced me to join Howl’s company to learn how to fight as part of a unit first, and under his tutelage. I initially scofffed but looking back now, it was the best idea to learn the ropes.

“Howl joined our company to the Adders’ Foreign Levy with so many others. We were on the edges of the fighting at Carteneau. The last thing I recall is him telling us to run as Dalamud broke.

“I woke up bells later and malms away. Started walking in a daze, was found by Adder scouts soon after, taken back to where the Seedseers and conjurers were healing other survivors. Howl and the others in our company were not among them. I went home to recover, body and mind, for the next five years; the latter took longer to sort out.

“Howl and his wife have a memorial in the family plot that I visit now and then. They taught me much; I wouldn’t be the adventurer I am without them. But I miss them, all of them, still. Always will.”

[screamsinmidwest]

i’m so obsessed with this spelling mistake i made twice like a month apart. i keep saying appearched and i need to stop.

[screamsinmidwest]

literally poured myself a glass of wine to celebrate posting november rain. i’m so glad it’s finished

[screamsinmidwest]

trying to decide whether or not i should proofread my 32k word fic at 12:30 am is such a dumb question.

[screamsinmidwest]

finally finishing a fic i started in december is a weight off my shoulders i didn’t know i needed