This deep dive is going to be a little unusual as we’re going to be moving around a lot more. Let’s situate ourselves first, using the Citadel as a landmark. (Thanks @starjunco for the fantastic caps!)
[id: Nyx headed off a very utilitarian train line onto a concrete platform with rickety metal stairs. In the background is a bridge built on arches, with the coordinates N35-41-39 and W13-19-36.]
This is Nyx’s stop. Two points of orientation – first, the coordinates on the bridge here will be seen a lot, and the bridges themselves. Second, we can see from the sign we’re 5 km from the Citadel proper and 2km out from the Citadel main gate – which implies a pretty large central district, probably the original city itself, and probably a neighborhood here that works mainly in the district or its adjacent city hubs.
[id: tiered bridges span two banks of buildings, one built on sandstone, the other’s base obscured by the train line. Beyond the bridge is the shining Citadel and downtown Lucis. The top tier of buildings and bridge are all shining glass, metal, and stone, but it gets progressively lower quality as buildings are layered down the cliffside.]/end id
Here’s what that looks like, for some literal perspective. In the background we can see the Citadel is fairly close by – this is probably a train commute of twenty minutes or less, including getting from the train to the Citadel.
The buildings on the upper tier are all fairly high quality, but as you go down they get worse. Notice they are literally built into the cliffside. I wonder if there was originally a river down here, or if this was a cliff (possibly even a quarry) and everything on the other side is completely artificial.
Also notice you can see a clear age progression on the bridges – the bottom is red brick with some decorations, while the bridge above it mirrors the classic arches but does so in plain white, and above them both appears to be a standard highway. It looks like the white bridge is probably behind rather than directly on top of the red bridge, but it’s an interesting contrast.
Then there's the concrete arched structure that runs down the center of this canyon -- an aqueduct? an old train bridge?
There is one fairly plain apartment complex on the upper tier that is an exception to the rule that up is new and fancy and down is plain, but it is sitting literally on the edge of the cliff. A holdout to gentrification, maybe?
[id: Nyx tromps down the rickety stairs, and we see more of the ravine. Underneath the trainline are many buildings built into or against a flat concrete wall]/end id.
As we head down, at first it doesn’t seem so bad. An unfortunate place to live, literally under a train track, but the aqueduct, though plain concrete, seems well-maintained, even if this concrete isn’t. And the buildings are crowded but seem orderly…
(Side note: that is a lot of AC units! They are everywhere. I don’t know if Insomnia in general or just this area is so hot, though.)
[id: The ravine at night, crowded with a hodgepodge of balconies and buildings that roughly get closer together as they get closer to the bottom]/end id.
But the nighttime shows you just how packed it is, and how far down this goes. And the concrete aqueduct-thing in the center of the rift appears to have vanished. Maybe we’re just at a different point in the artificial canyon? Navigating this does not look fun. Or safe.
[id: Nyx, drinking from a glass bottle, walks down a tiled street amid restaurants with colorful banners and the bridges high up in the background]/end id.
Heading further down, we hit the “street level” for this area. The bridges provide us a nice reference point once again.
These are actually pretty nice places; clean, well-maintained, well-lit. Notice the mix of Japanese, English, and Thai? The people are all worn-down, though. Color on clothing seems to be illegal in Insomnia.
[id: Nyx approaches Yamachang’s, which is on a small platform surrounded by a beat-up metal railing above a concrete drainage area on one side, and storage on the other]/end id.
Further down, further down, until we hit Yamachang’s, which might actually be under the previous street level. Looks like this might have been a river, after all – this certainly appears to be a drainage system, either for stormwater or graywater. Either way, I’m sure it lends a nice aroma to Yamachang’s offerings. Might be why Libertus wants more spices, and makes me wonder who else is venturing down all this way that Yamachang is catering to.
[id: the glaives gathered around the table at the bar. Behind them are balconies to apartments above the drainage side.]/end id.
You have some fairly normal apartment complexes down this far, though. At least on the non-plumbing side.
[id: looking up at a through night time rain at a plaza area on top of other buildings. The buildings on that level are set further back, and further above them are skyscrapers and simple concrete bridges.]/end id.
Heading back up in a slightly different area, we approach where Nyx lives. Notice the different bridge and stores. It seems fairly nice, compared to the area right by the train.
Also nice to see the rain. I wonder how the wall lets it through? Does the king get headaches every time it rains? What about lightning?
(A lot of people have talked about signs, so I haven’t been talking about them much, but I want to point out the “With the Cello” sign, partially because I like the instrument, but also because we’ll see it later. Everyone gets this ad!)
[id: a zoomed out picture of the plaza as Nyx walks away from a gated courtyard, showing makeshift tables with colorful umbrellas around a kiosk, and a patchwork of colorful ads on the bridges, buildings, and windows.]/end id.
And if we zoom out a little bit, we see it a little better. From left to right, we have a sign for books – perhaps where Nyx obtains all his tomes – the ubiquitous Cosmos and Eclair signs, a worker’s lunch area, a tea shop, and two bars. We saw the Gil Bar earlier as Nyx was walking down the street – might be a chain, might mean it’s not a bar. The second bar has gotten a lot of attention for its sign – Seven Soldier being a clear nod to FFVII – but look more closely at the building itself. No, not the Meat Meet sign, though it is very funny. Don’t those windows look…familiar? The bars on them, and the glazing, at least.
Combined with Nyx emerging from this gate, I think Nyx actually lives above the bar, either on the upper floor here or another one we can’t see above it. Maybe he works there as well? Either way, I doubt there are more than four apartments here. Food for thought, and fanworks.
The building itself, with its arches and thin bricks, also appears to be much older than the rest of the neighborhood, though compare the plain concrete lower level of the building next to it with that building’s fancy stone upper half. There are layers of history here, waiting to be filled in.
[id: close-up of the bridge, showing the coordinates very clearly and the rough sandstone walls curving around beyond the bridges.]/end id.
We’ll end back with the reference point – the new bridge. (See, everyone gets the Cello sign!) The coordinates here are very intriguing. Are they an absolute coordinate latitude/longitude system for Eos? For Insomnia? Are they just a numbering system, irrelevant to relative location?
Thanks for taking this tour with us. Let us know what else you saw! Signs, languages, buildings, people; there’s a lot, and we’d love your thoughts!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/2
Fandom: Final Fantasy XV
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Cor Leonis/Nyx Ulric
Characters: Nyx Ulric, Cor Leonis
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Swearing, Threats of Violence, but its mostly nyx being dramatic, Galahdian Culture (Final Fantasy XV), Mild Blood, Aggression, Emotional Constipation, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Crush, NyxWeek2022, Chronic Pain, Cultural Differences
Series: Part 3 of NyxWeek2022
Summary:
Nyx loves a good storm, he really does. But the lead up? Not so much. Dealing with the pains of an incoming storm has always left him feeling on edge, but in Insomnia, relief is a lot harder to come by.
-Random discontented galahdian: *makes complaint in Clans meeting*
-Coeurl: *walks in to take a nap behind Nyx while trying to push him out of his seat*
-Random discontented galahdian: …
Will just casually slide this in~ *slinks out*
Happy Nyxweek ya’all! Also a thank you to whump, awlwren, gabria, ertrunkener, and all writers for fuelling me with awesome content :)
will be putting the rest of the AU up this week too so I wont clog the tag up but looking forward to read everything from everyone!
(also not me squinting at that galahd art SE dropped and left us with at for this to get some sense of their traditional wear and concept you can see i got lazy towards the end TwT)
Pairings: Gen (Stand alone but can be read as in universe for Sunshine & Madness which is nyx/noct. Piece is gen/no ref to the ship at all.)
Rating: G
“Nyx,” Crowe whined, drawing out the syllable of his name to a truly absurd length.
Nyx resolutely flipped another page in the latest of the unofficial book club of bad romance novels. This one had a dashing Glaive on the cover; coat open, shirt torn to reveal impressive abs, and with an artful splash of blood. It was amazing in the way only true trash could be.
“Nyxy Nyx Nyx,” Crowe tried again, draping herself over the back of the couch to his left. Her curls spilled over the scuffed and worn leather of the cushion as she looked at him with her best doe eyes (slightly hindered by being upside down).
“No.”
“Ah- you mean yes. Yes, Nyx.”
“No, Crowe.”
“Yes, Crowe,” she corrected firmly, like she was addressing the gaggle of mages that served under her command. Nyx rolled his eyes at the tone. It might work on the new maglets, impressed at Crowe’s power and skill, but it didn’t do much good on a fellow lieutenant who’d grown up with her. She huffed out a breath and let herself practically ooze down the couch till she had poured into the seat; one leg over the arm, one foot was on the ground, and her head rested on Nyx’s thigh. “Why are you fighting this- you know you’d have fun.”
“We camp all the time, Crowe,” he pointed out, and finally closed the book to pay attention to her.
“That’s not camping, that’s bedding down hoping no one tries to kill us in the night. I want camping- like we used to do, you know, before.”
Nyx’s whole face softened at that. Gently, he pointed out: “There’s no jungles here, fledgling. It’s not going to be the same.”
“No, I know,” Crowe said, voice pitched quiet as she avoided Nyx’s too knowing gaze. “But we can still go to a forest, find a nice spot by a lake, and camp. I’ll fish with Oriens and Libs can bitch about having to light a fire while Pelna makes fun of him and you set up the tents and… and we can just… you know.”
Reaching out, Nyx carded gentle fingers through Crowe’s hair. Yeah, he knew. They could just relax and take a moment to breathe air not trapped under a glowing dome and pretend, just for a little while, that they weren’t soldiers fighting a horrible war for good reasons.
“You’ll have to help everyone plan cover for their duties with the Glaive,” Nyx said after a long pause. Crowe stilled under his hand. “And if you’re handling fishing you’ll have to handle all the food prep too.”
Crowe scrambled up, twisting to look at Nyx with wide eyes. “Really, we can?”
“And you’ll have to clear us borrowing equipment to use or give me and Libs time to find stuff to use-”
“We can borrow tents and bedrolls for sure,” she said, lunging across the coffee table to grab at her phone. She rested her elbows on the stained wood, stretched out like a coeurl as she flicked open an app to type out notes in.
“We’ll need the fishing gear-”
“Right and a small wood ax and things for cooking… a few pans and I’ll have to put together spices- Libs!”
“What?” Libertus shouted back from where he was in the kitchen.
“I’m going to steal spices!”
“Why are you going to steal spices?” he asked, walking out with the tray of tea.
Crowe looked up with a smile that stretched across her face. “Nyx said yes!”
Libers snorted, and shot Nyx a look from the corner of his eyes as he sat down heavily into his arm chair, cup in hand. “You’re a fucking pushover.”
Nyx shrugged and watched as Crowe lept up off her perch to bounce into Libertus’ kitchen and start rooting around in his spice cabinet. She talked to herself about the packing list the whole way. Nyx watched how she moved through the small space. The heavy weight tension she’d been carrying the last few weeks in her shoulders was gone. Hiding a smile behind the cup he grabbed, Nyx admitted, “Yeah, maybe I am.”
Hi Guys! Here is Day 4 for the Nyx week writing challenge!
Prompt: Loyalty, Guard Duty, Magic
Summary: Pelna gave Nyx a very serious mission this fine summer’s day- distribute his payload to the glaives on guard rotation without being caught by the Lucians. Easy, right?
Nyx crept along the brick walls and pillars of the kingsglaive wing of the citadel. He sunk into a crouch behind a pillar as a crownsguard strode past. He couldn't help the grin tugging his mouth. He just had to make it around the corner and past the reception desk into the citadel proper to get to his first target.
Summer sunlight streamed through the multicolored glass, painting the marble floors shades of beautiful colors. Nyx flexed magic down his spine. The shafts of colored light bent around his form as he snuck forward.
His prize clunked against his back in its case. Jungle melon. Delicious. Impossible to grow here. Yet still the Khara clan had managed to grow some in the ghetto of all places. Pelna had offered him one WHOLE melon as payment for the task of sneaking ice cold melon slices to the glaives on guard duty this stifling summer day.
Nyx waited for his opportunity. The receptionist yawned-and he warped as quietly as he could. Nyx struggled to bite back a chuckle- the receptionist did not see a thing! He landed silently, creeping around a pillar. It was a fun game- a training exercise. Run the circumference of the citadel and drop treats to the glaives on guard duty without being caught. He was stealth, he was the coeurl, none could catch- a tap on his shoulder interrupted his internal monologue.
Crowe gave him a flat stare. Nyx grinned sheepishly.
“Delivery! From the Khara clan.” He quickly opened his satchel, presenting her a slice of melon, still dripping from its icy packing.
“...You suck at sneaking around. But I accept.” She snorted, before tearing into her prize and waving him through. Nyx saluted her sharply and spun on heel to duck into the next corridor.
The next several stops were easy. Axis intercepted him- stealthy little bastard. Nyx squeaked around the blade at this throat that he had a delivery. Axis smiled at the melon and released his hold, letting the mission continue. Sonitus raised an eyebrow, but softened when he saw the melon. It had been years for many of the galahdians. Sonitus accepted gratefully, and looked the other way as Nyx snuck closer to the councilroom entrance.
Libertus and Tredd stood at attention, guarding the councilroom doors. Currently in session- the stuffy lords of the realm argued about the taxation of food imports and exports. Horrifically boring, but the glaives had to maintain appearances, even in this heat. Nyx could see by the set of their shoulders that Libertus and Tredd were downright irate and likely to start arguing the second their shift was over.
Magic flexed- hiding Nyx’s form. Stealing over to Libertus’s side he hid in the indentation of stonework and inlay. He tapped his hunting brother’s hip. Libertus barely contained his jump and shout. Tredd looked over at the disturbance sharply.
“Shh. Delivery- complements of Khara Clan.” Nyx whispered, and worked on cutting two melon slices into small pieces. Libertus could not move from his post or attentive stance- the pompous lords would try to take their funding away if they looked like less than perfection. Libertus stiffened and his eyes grew watery at the smell of melon nectar. It had been far too long. Nyx raised a chunk to Libertus’s lips. He gratefully ate off the knife, trying to remain watching straight, minimizing his chewing. He managed to finish his slice unnoticed. Tredd looked suspicious, glancing over, looking like he was about to say something.
In one smooth motion Nyx warp rolled across the entranceway, stepped on Tredd’s foot, intercepted the punch of retaliation, and popped a chunk of melon past Tredd’s snarl and into his mouth. The redhead immediately relaxed into the hold, chewing happily.
“Stand up like a good boy and you can have more.” Nyx breathed.
Tredd looked rebellious for a fraction of a second, but the cold juice had been divine. He straightened up just in time for the lords to glance over and resume their arguing. Nyx fed him bits of the fruit, gaining happy little hums in response.
Nyx repacked his bag getting ready to move. The council would be ending soon, he had to get out of there before then. Two more slices to deliver.
Drautos and Luche normally had their debriefing around this time. He just had to catch them before they went home or a councilperson came to berate them for something stupid..
A vice grip descended and caught Nyx by the scruff, effortlessly lifting him and pinning him to the wall, invisibility be damned. Nyx’s squeak of surprise was buried into brick.
“Getting a little bold for setting up another prank war, are we?” Drautos chuckled, twisting Nyx’s arm further behind his back.
“Not a prank, just a-ahhh!” Drautos twisted his arm sharper.
“I don’t believe you. We just got the stains out of the ceiling. I am going to have to up your training if you still have energy for this silliness.” Drautos hefted Nyx again by the scruff, hauling him into his office, ignoring the squeals of protest. Luche looked up from a stack of papers. The blonde raised an eyebrow.
“It's a delivery from the Khara clan! Not a Prank!”
Drautos shook his head, then shook Nyx like a naughty kid. Luche huffed, and searched through the satchel. Drautos turned when his second froze, waiting expectantly.
The blonde pulled out the two jungle melon slices, looking thunderstruck. Drautos, the unshakeable captain, froze as well.
“A gift. Enjoy.”
If the captain forgot himself and gathered Nyx up into a hug, or that Luche got misty eyed and whimpered at the taste, well. Nyx wasn’t going to tell.
For @calling4glaives’s #NyxWeek2022! For my favorite CorNyx fic, Follow Me Home, which you should read if you haven’t! I don’t know if the author’s on Tumblr, but please let me know if they are so I can @ them!
I struggled to get this done in time, lol. You may know that Nyx has a head mesh in game, for use in the multiplayer DLC, but the textures are pretty low-res and I wasn’t able to find his hair (assuming its in there). So I had to do a lot of work on the textures and then the rest of the model, not that you can see it here.... -_- I also tried to match Nyx’s coloring to the actor’s rather than the animated version, since the animated version is worryingly whiter .. not that you can tell much, since the sunset lighting is so red it washes everything out.... -_-
The cabin and the foliage were fun to put together. I might do another render later to show those off. Either way, enjoy!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/?
Fandom: Final Fantasy XV
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Crowe Altius & Libertus Ostium & Nyx Ulric, Nyx Ulric & Selena Ulric, Nyx Ulric & Nyx Ulric's Mother, Cor Leonis & Nyx Ulric, Clarus Amicitia & Weskham Armaugh & Cor Leonis & Regis Lucis Caelum
Characters: Nyx Ulric, Selena Ulric, Nyx Ulric's Mother, Cor Leonis, Regis Lucis Caelum, Weskham Armaugh, Clarus Amicitia
Additional Tags: non-canon timeline, messenger au, Nyx and Cor Are About the Same Age, Events in Galahd Happened Earlier, Canon-Typical Violence, Tags May Change, NyxWeek2022, Galahdan Holiday, Shifter, Storm - Freeform, Coeurls, Messenger!Nyx
Summary:
As tensions rise on Galahd, Nyx looks for ways to fulfill his calling as one of its guardians. Just when he thought the Nifs were bad enough, a bunch of Lucians show up. Are they friends as they claim or foes as the memories of his divine half would suggest?
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Nyx is offered a deal to change things and finds himself in a strange world where he doesn't exist. Can he find a way to make a place for himself when no one knows who he is?
My fill for Nyx week day 7, sacrifice
Thank you to everyone who participated! Nyx week was amazing!
