Wrote a little ficlet from Alphinaud's POV for Post-ARR/Heavensward! Read under cut!
Note: Rifra will be referred to as Seren (her alias from ARR-SHB) for this fic.
The freezing cold of Coerthas wasn't something Alphinaud was accustomed to, and having to essentially be forced to trek through the ilms of snow made the little elezen shiver in his boots. It was all bleak; everything that he had strived for with the Crystal Braves was taken away from him, a mutiny against him planned right under his nose. He was humbled, to say the least, and for once he because acutely aware of his childish naivete that came with his young age. Which each step he thought of the Scions that placed their trust in him, that was starting to become a new family for him, left behind at the mercy of his own army and the Brass Blades.
At least the Warrior of Light Seren and Tataru were with him, and Lord Haurchefant's bottomless generosity was able to grant them refuge in the reclusive nation of Ishgard, yet what was he supposed to do at this point? Even if he wanted to clear their names at Ul'dah. what could he even do to achieve that? Being the top of the Studium students wasn't going to cut it anymore, and he no longer had his twin sister Alisaie with him.
Just where was she anyway? She had helped them, sending Brennan the peddler with a chocobo carriage to take them away from Ul'dah, but where was Alphinaud's other half when he needed her the most?
The elezen tripped as his mind wandered, landing face first into the stone floor. Hearing him fall, Seren immediately rushed to his side.
"Are you alright there?" The viera asked, helping him sit up and dust off the snow. It was a wonder how she was able to withstand the cold, dressed somewhat lighter than what one would expect in a frigid climate, but someone like her who grew up in the freezing mountain ranges would have no problem with the temperature.
"I'm…" Alphinaud muttered, hesitation in his voice. "I'm fine, thank you."
"Make sure you don't get too distracted, Alphinaud!" Tataru warned him as she slowly approached him, fighting against the strong winds. "I'm already having a hard time getting through here, can't afford to have you struggle as well!"
Alphinaud didn't respond, the feeling of incompetence that was growing in him increasing exponentially.
Seren immediately took notice and crouched in front of him with her back towards him. "Climb on."
The boy refused. "N-no, I can keep going."
"You're exhausted, Alphinaud," Seren curtly responded. "A lot has happened today, and you need to rest. I'll carry you until we make it to a shelter in Ishgard."
Her head turned to face him, a reassuring smile on her lips. "Besides, I'm used to carrying my little sister home all the time."
Alphinaud pursed his lips together, his heart twisting as what remained of his ego fought to refuse her offer. However, today was not the time to try and preserve such, and he allowed himself to climb on her back before continuing across the Steps of Faith.
As he rested against her back, the boy reflected upon his experiences from the past several moons. Riding the same boat to Limsa Lominsa as Seren before getting to know her, separating from Alisaie over differences before finding her once more at the Coils of Bahamut, joining the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, forming the Crystal Braves… A lot, too much, had truly happened for a sixteen-summers-old child.
Alphinaud laid his head against Seren's shoulder, basking in her warmth as the cold winds blew against the three of them. When was the last time was he carried like this by anyone? His father Fourchenault began to drown in his work, and he was now too heavy for his mother Ameliance to hold him on her back like this. Without him realizing, Seren had practically become an older-sibling figure that he never had, a long-lost family member that he was supposed to have known all his life. Someone he could turn to for advice. Someone he could lean on for support...
Finding comfort in her presence, warmth against the freezing winds that threatened to stop them, Alphinaud drifted off to sleep.
Other than your own characters’ relationships, can you give an example of someone who is particularly good at writing or otherwise portraying romantic and/or sexual relationships? What is it about their work that really stands out for you?
I'll put what I've been reading / have read as recommendations since I'm still newly established with mutuals here.
A Shelter from the Storm by Constellarium
Focus: Haurchefant/WoL, slow burn, friends to lovers
Summary: The Warrior of Light, weary from her flight from the ill-fated banquet in Ul'dah, seeks sanctuary and finds it in the kindness of an old friend.
Thoughts: Constellarium is such a fantastic writer, especially for Haurchefant fans. Words cannot speak highly enough of each thoughtful interaction and dialogue choices, especially in intimate scenes.
Somewhere in Between by BiscuitSticks
Focus: Estinien/WoL, angst and romance, hurt/comfort
Summary: The first time Estinien saw her, he was a young lancer and she was but a speck against the enveloping Coerthan snow, fleeing the massacre of her people at the hands of the temple knights. He felt justified as they were, exterminating the heretics who indulged in dragon’s blood, apparent by their horns and tails.
Thoughts: This is the fic that sold me on WoL/Estinien honestly, especially as an Au Ra Xaela player. I still think about the possibility of Estinien hunting down a six-year old Shira and it lives rent-free in my head.
Shoutout to the people who enable my yapping:
@johnnylandslide: everything with Johnny and Tataru is so adorable, sweet and wholesome. Definitely recommend checking out the fics and drabbles! Tataru Taru has become referred to as Mrs. Landslide and nothing will change my opinion on this
@ramyeonguksu: Ah, my biggest enabler of Estinien Brainwyrms. I unfortunately can't read his fics until I finish Shadowbringers and Endwalker, though the brainrot has severely affected me and I've started having weird dreams about Estinien. The fic about Haurchefant was sweet, delicious pain too though (:
