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I was banished from my own kitchen that night. They conspired against me, as is their wont--though four against one is hardly sporting odds. Still, it was Valentione’s, and thus my nameday, and they insisted. Sufficiently chastened, I had no complaints regarding the feast they set before us, even if I know damned well that Estinien’s sole contribution was likely stealing bites when the other three had their backs turned. Such extravagance was Aymeric’s doing...I know him too well, and how much his heart ached for this, bereft as he was of us, left behind to pray for our safe return.
I know well how he feels. To break bread with the ones I love, that the fruits of rich La Noscean vines might flow as freely as banter and laughter...these simple things are what I yearn for, beyond all else. Mayhap even I did not know how I so cherished them, til I was nearly consumed by the Light on a distant star. But there is no greater pleasure, no greater joy, than the simple companionship of those I adore. May I never go without it again.
Like a moth to a flame, burned by the fire
dandy flatters me tbh. I just write what I want to see in fic, what I like and need to have from stories and don’t generally get, in canon or even a lot of other fanfic
Like you almost never see disabled characters in fantasy stories, and I’m hard pressed to think of a single example in FF. Barret being an amputee with a gun arm for Rule of Cool is about it, aside from Tellah’s dementia, which was really just a gameplay mechanic. In this game, Y’shtola and Thancred’s respective disabilities don’t get a whole lot of attention in canon, aside from occasional plot relevance or offhand asides. Hell a lot of people don’t even realize Thancred’s disabled or that losing the ability to manipulate aether even counts as a disability, even though by the rules of the setting it absolutely is.
But heroic characters in fantasy stories basically have 2 outcomes, either they survive the danger without any impact whatsoever (at most maybe a cool scar), or they die outright, becoming tragic martyrs for their friends and loved ones to grieve forever. Like Haurchefant did in canon.
Yes I love Haurche to pieces, he’s my #1 comfort character along with the rest of the Ishgardian Heavensward quad, and I ship him with my WoL and didn’t want her to lose him and be miserable, but that’s not the only reason he survived in my canon. I have literally never seen a knight in shining armor type become permanently disabled and survive in a story. And I wanted to tell that story. Yes he survives, but he’s irrevocably changed. How does he cope with having chronic pain? Does the old anger come back? Does he take in stride? How do his loved ones react? How does he adapt? How does a knight still follow his deeply beloved calling when he can’t lift his shield some days? What happens when he stubbornly tries to power through, for the sake of his comrades? How do they react, and support him?
I just find exploring all of that, and his life in general, a far more satisfying and meaningful story to tell than the umpteenth Lost Lenore narrative that the game took with him (and much of the fandom wallows in). No matter how well written it was (and I think it was). I’m just fuckin tired of it.
absolutely losing it at the thought of Haurche’s goodbye to Ryne being the gift of a small pendant, made by Gisele, in the shape of a tiny Fortemps shield. Because he declares her a Knight of House Fortemps, and every proper Knight must have a shield, even if she doesn’t fight with one.
“The Luminous Blade” is the title he gives her.
It wasn’t bullshit either. When they came home from the First, Haurche told Artoirel all about it, and Artoirel confirmed it and officially added her to the House’s roster.
...what if Ser Vaindreau’s Grace was actually named Lord Haurchefant’s Grace instead
I mean he’s only the most famous disabled Ishgardian knight around in my verse
🏠 🌦️
Fortemps Manor is Gisele’s forever home--and so is Haurchefant.
