#A Shadow of Heaven's Light

[themolluscasometimes]

What if i made a quanyin au where yin yu is the calamity Eclipsing Shadow Devouring Light. What then.

#tgcf #heaven official's blessing #yin yu #quan yizhen #quanyin #eclipsing shadow devouring light

[catmint1]

In the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.

—J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

#quotes #j.r.r. tolkien #the return of the king #shadow #light #beauty #heaven #text

[naksushadows]

Lee Jae Wook the versatile actor that you are ✨

#lee jae wook #lee jaewook #이재욱 #alchemy of souls #alquimia das almas #alchemy of souls light and shadow #do do sol sol la la sol #melodia da esperança #move to heaven #extraordinary you #death games #search www #memories Alhambra #When the Weather Is Fine #korean actor #korean dramas #netflix kdrama #kdrama series #dorama #doramas #baek kyung #jang uk #jang wook #talented artist #actor #kdrama #Will Die Soon #Sunwoo Joon # Lee Jang-Woo

[a-world-in-grey]

You might not need another au but do you want it?

Think of how much fun it would be, Sola and Ardyn snarking at each other in the middle of the throne room and before the entire court.

The resemblance is uncanny.

You can track which of the nobles noticed it by how much they pale, their polite masks turning a little bit tense.

You. Are an enabling gremlin.

Plopping this in the Combined Retinue Nox/Sola au, because this is what my brain finally decided to spit out at 2 in the morning.

@secret-engima have an early Christmas present, I guess?

.

“If I have to dress up, Uncle,” his niece tells him fiercely, “then so do you.”

Ardyn raises a brow from the bench he’s languidly lounging on, watching his Tailor circle Sola with sharp eyes as she tugs on the black fabric of the dress she’s wrangled Sola into wearing for her upcoming Coming of Age, unfazed by the equally black scowl on the princess’ face.

Beside him, Nox is firmly pretending to nap on his Shield’s shoulder. Axis has his gaze glued to the book in his hand.

It seems he’ll have no allies from that quarter.

Admittedly, Ardyn had perhaps been enjoying Sola’s irritation too much, and hadn’t bothered to smother his growing amusement with every dark mutter Sola had made about protocol and where the court could shove said protocol.

He gives Sola an indulgent smirk. “I highly doubt I’m on the guest list, my dear. Given the current state of international politics.”

Not that he’d let the lack of an invitation stop him from attending his niece and nephew’s birthday party.

From the glare Sola levels at the mirror, and the minute stiffening of Nox’s spine, Ardyn has the feeling his niblings will ensure he is invited, regardless of anyone else’s feelings on the matter.

Nox’s eyes actually open a sliver when Sola’s magic abruptly curls, all mischievous glee with an edge of bared teeth. His nephew warily eyes his twin and the grin growing on her face.

Ardyn does not share Nox’s apprehension. He rather thinks his niece should smile like that more often.

“A suit for your Uncle, then?” Penelopeia asks archly.

“If you would be so kind.” Sola replies before Ardyn can protest. Sola’s blue eyes narrow on him through the mirror. “Black for the shirt, instead of the suit, I think. Gold as an accent color, but otherwise I have full faith in your judgment.”

To Penelopeia’s credit, his Tailor pauses for but a moment. “Of course, Your Highness.”

Ardyn gives Sola a long look. His niece knows very well protocol prohibits him from wearing black. He is neither a (known) member of the royal family nor in sworn service to them. Sola cares little for protocol and tradition, especially when it gets in her way, but even she can’t get away with flouting such an old and respected tradition. Not like this. “Niece.” He warns.

Sola raises her chin, defiant. “Do you trust me?”

Ardyn sighs. Smiles reassuringly at the fierce girl who’s been Nox and Ardyn’s staunchest supporter these past near three years. “Yes.”

Sola nods, and that is that.

.

Copia Egestas adores her Queen.

Sola’s last minute changes to the twins’ Coming of Age gave her a solid week of extra work to do - with help from Ignis, who volunteered on account of her being nearly six months pregnant - hunting through the Archives and preparing her arguments before she and Sola sat down in front of the King and finally told him exactly who would be presenting his daughter at her Coming of Age. Presenting both his children, in fact.

Unsurprisingly, Regis was not pleased. But between Sola’s staunch refusal to change her mind and Copia’s presented precedents, he reluctantly conceded.

Now, eyeing everyone as they wait to enter the ballroom, Copia can only feel a vicious anticipation.

Nox and Sola make a striking pair in black and gold. Both of them have their hair carefully pulled back, decorated further with gold. Nox still wears his usual earrings, the only silver on him as he’d declined the offer for golden versions, and Sola has mirrored him with a set of earrings arranged in the opposite ears. Not the same earrings, but the studs and climber are similar enough in shape to achieve the desired effect.

Copia’s sleeveless black dress is cut to flatter her pregnant figure, a gold shawl for her shoulders because six months pregnant and she gets uncomfortably warm now that the summer months are upon them, which also why she’s elected for an updo instead of letting her thick curls tumble loose. Unlike Sola, Copia is in comfortable flats instead of heels, again on account of being pregnant.

Axis is in a black suit jacket with gold details, and his Clan’s purple and green tartan. His hair’s been styled back from his face, but otherwise remains free.

Axis isn’t the only one wearing purple and green. Nox has the shifting purple-green galahdite in his ears, hair, and decorating his cufflinks. Sola’s chosen a selection of amethysts and emeralds to decorate her gold jewelry, while Copia had been gifted a pair of ebony hair sticks topped with amethyst and emerald carved cabochons.

(Copia knows just enough about Galahdian culture to know to tell Penny the goal, and follow the woman’s instructions on how to support Axis without overstepping cultural boundaries. The result, she is told, is a careful blend of Lucian and Galahdian color codes, but Copia has never seen Axis struck speechless before so she makes a mental note to commend Penny and her recommended jewelers for their hard work.)

With Ardyn, however, Penny has evidently decided to take refuge in audacity.

The suit is a lovely shade of dark purple, decorated with an intricate pattern of - much to Copia’s amusement - peacock feathers. At a glance they could be mistaken for phoenix feathers, certainly, but Copia knows her birds, and those feathers belong to the phoenix’s non-magical dramatic cousins. Studded at the eye of each feather are small galahdite stones to match Nox and Axis.

Under the suit, Ardyn’s shirt is black, which will no doubt give the Court conniptions and the press a field day, despite them following protocol to a T. Instead of a traditional tie, Ardyn’s kept his usual scarf, but in a rich green. How it doesn’t clash with the purple, Copia doesn’t know, but she knows Ardyn’s vest is a matching shade of green. Ardyn has a gold and galahdite lapel pin, linked by a fine gold chain to a paired piece on the front of his breast pocket.

The master of ceremonies glances over at them, expression half-expectant, half-despairing.

It turns to resignation when Ardyn and Sola gift him identical smirks.

Nox sighs.

Copia hides a grin behind her hand. Oh yes, tonight is going to be so very entertaining, with uncle and niece actively working together.

She wonders how many people will notice the family resemblance before the end of the night?

#ffxv #Shadow of Heaven’s Light #Nox verse #Combined Retinue au #Ardyn Izunia #Copia Egestas #Sola Lucis Caelum #Nox Izunia #Axis Arra #Penelopeia Lazarus #galahdite is the in-verse version of alexandrite that specifically shifts green-purple

[a-cloud-for-dreams]

So this is mostly a Choices blog but some of you know that I've recently started playing Romance Club as well because 1) there are some really good books on RC, 2) the art, and 3) to compare both apps. I could probably make this a series(?) to compare and contrast the two but here's one of the main things I've noticed playing both apps:

The Difference in Pacing

Background: The clear reason for this is because of how the books are set up. On Choices, each completed book is approx. 16 chapters (like a movie) while on RC, the book is typically 3 seasons with around 10-12 episodes (like a tv show). So a book like Open Heart, for instance, would be 3 seasons under one title instead of 3 separate books since they occur within a close period. This is different from a series like Heaven's Secret, which has two separate books that span ten years apart.

I bring this up because I assume this difference explains why the pacing in both apps is so different. I can use Blades II, Kindred, Theodora, and DALS as an example.

I've brought this up already, but one of my biggest gripes with Blades II was the very odd pacing. The beginning of the book (in my opinion) took longer than necessary to start the plot and there was a little too much filler with less time to focus on new lore the themes ate tho and I'm grateful we got another book.

Kindred has a similar issue. The concept of a witch book was cool and they had a good plot, but 16 chapters weren't enough to explore everything they wanted to with the book. The ending was rushed and it felt way too easy to defeat the Wraith King. Do I still love this book? Yes. Do I think the authors did well with the amount of time they were given? Also yes. But the rushed plot does make it hard to recommend it since PB is capable of handling a lot of plot (RE: Blades I).

On the other hand, Theodora has 3 seasons and the whole immortality arc (the premise of the book) wasn't explained until near the end of S2. We had an entire season to explore the character and at least half of a second season to explore her life after she realized she was immortal but without knowing why (human -> immortal -> realizing how she became immortal and starts controlling her power). As a result, it becomes easier to get attached to her since we spent more time getting to know her still one of my favorite MCs.

Dracula: A Love Story still can't believe it has 4 seasons spent an entire season before revealing Vlad's identity even though it's in the title. In comparison, PB would have done three chapters of leaving MC in the dark before revealing who Vlad is with the rest of the book being allotted to helping him. I get that we needed to see all the visions and stuff but personally, I feel like I was more invested in Lale and would have read an entire book about her, Aslan, and Vlad. I swear I don't hate DALS please don't be offended lol.

Am I saying I prefer RC to Choices? Not necessarily, I have problems with RC too mostly regarding representation, and I also know it wouldn't be fair to compare the apps since they are set up differently. I just thought this was something interesting to point out.

#mir's musings 💬 #playchoices #romance club #choices vs romance club #open heart #heaven’s secret #rc theodora #dracula: a love story #blades of light and shadow II #kindred #blades of light and shadow

[what-do-you-mean-theyre-evil]

I thought PB was going to give Blades the Hero treatment but instead they gave it the Elementalists treatment and I don't know how to feel about that.

#choices bolas #no sequel vs rushed to high heaven #it's like that one Batman quote #playchoices #blades of light and shadow

[andrei-grigorev]

Cloud fever

Prints

#original photographers #photographers on tumblr #photographers on instagram #photographers on flickr #nature #clouds #cloudscape #sky #heaven #sunset #sundown #afterglow #fire #blazing #burning color #red #light #shadow #abstract #dark #Andrei Grigorev

[vibinwiththefruits]

the lighting in this shot is going to send me into an early grave

#the windows casting dark and light on their respective sides #in most scenes they're basked in their own colors #but here #with their lips meeting aziraphale's face is cast in shadow #in contrast to his hair which is still being lit up like a halo #a visual representation of his love for crowley not being enough to overcome his ties to heaven #good omens spoilers #good omens

[didanawisgi]

#carl gustav jung #c.g. jung #heaven #hell #light #darkness #shadow #wisdom #fav #tree of life #kabbalah #jungian psychology

[downtherabbitholewithlucy]

"Wish you were here"

Me too, Wes. Me too.

#Raise a coconut if you too wish you were on a tropical beach vacation with Wesley. 🥥🌴🥥🌴🥥 #I could fan him with a fallen palm frond. Apply the sunblock and/or tanning oil of his choosing. Whatever he needs. #Imagine splashing around in the water or building sand castles with him. #God that sounds like heaven #also his shadow eerily resembles the 1994 self-titled Korn album #he's a tall boi #Wes Borland #Limp Bizkit #nu-metal #Black Light Burns #Wild for Wesley on Wes Borland Wednesday #down the rabbit hole

[raleigh-edward]

Any active choices/romance club blogs, drop a comment or say hi! I want to follow you guys, also I follow from my mainblog @aestheteasteria

#playchoices #choices #blades of light and shadow 2 #blades of light and shadow #romance club #heaven's secret

[themolluscasometimes]

AIGHT ive been thinking about the calamity!yin yu au bc im disgustingly brainrotted and all the holes in my brain are being filled with mxtx ship thoughts.

ANYWAY

calamity! yin yu who simultaneously finds quan yizhen breathtaking and is proud of him and truly, genuinely, fundamentally also HATES him. But then stuff happens, character development, trauma, tragedy etc etc and we see it all unfold into yin yu's self disgust and his stengthening belief that his ability to hate someone like quan yizhen is evidence of his disgraceful nature so that hatred turns inward and the rest to exhausted resignation and theres a dynamic betwen the two of them thats moving from yin yu hating-loving qyz to apathy and self hatred and qyz moving from his immature affection of 'i want you to like me' to taking some initiative in 'i want to love you and to do so is to show you the you that saved me/made me who i am' like. for the love of god. they need an arc that brings them together in such a way that they both grow and benefit, in a ways thats natural and doesnt undercut the truth of yin yu's envy and resentment and qyz's wilful ignorance of yinyu's needs and emotions as an individual who doesnt exist just to give and be kind.

like. listen. im not here to give just one of them an arc. yinyu is going to have all his self hatred and envy and awful emotions and work through them to find the love he already holds for qyz and then LET QYZ LOVE HIM IN RETURN.

But I also need QYZ to have the realisation that love is a verb. It's something you do for other people. Yin yu isn't the perfect untouchable, endlessly kind shixiong who gave him the life he has and to whom qyz has little to nothing to offer. Bc Yin yu doesn't love himself, qyz has to do it for him. (yeah im giving them a 'let me hang out in your lair while youre having this mental breakdown and recovering from injuries and let me help you' arc)

I still have a lot of deets to work out but it's precanon divergence in which Yin Yu descends, wants to die, becomes a ghostly ex god that no one in the heavens wants to acknowledge bc it would mean admitting he's one of theirs.

qyz just wants him to stop doing these horrible things because even if you want revenge, it's not something shixiong would want if he were in his right mind and thinking like he usually does.

Yin Yu does want revenge. So he's bitter, so what. but it's not what he's doing. not really. destroying the things left in the world that serve as evidence of his existence just conveniently happens to double as vengeance. Whether it's vengeance against others or vengeance against himself is unclear. salvation is unachievable for someone like him, but he's always been good at self-sabotage. whats a step further into self-annihilation.

anyway

I've been cooking :>

#quan yizhen #yin yu #quanyin #tgcf #heaven official's blessing #calamity!yin yu au #eclipsing shadow devouring light

[masked-alien-lesbian]

💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

#choices #pixelberry #playchoices #Making me want to break out my orc play through! #My elf mc is for Imtura #But my orc mc is for Nia #But heaven forbid #If valax actually becomes a LI #I don't know what to do! 😭 #I'll be replaying this book 10x #bolas #bolas 2 #blades of light and shadow #blades 2 #blades #Blades of light and shadow 2

[naksushadows]

Happy birthday to the talented and versatile actor Lee Jae Wook!! 🤍🤍

#alchemy of souls #alquimia das almas #alchemy of souls light and shadow #jang uk #lee jae wook #lee jaewook #jang wook #extraordinary you #search www #move to heaven #Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol #melodia da esperança #tvn alchemy of souls #korean actor #korean drama #doramas #battle of jangsari #memories of alhambra #When the Weather Is Fine #baek kyung #Sunwoo Joon #marco han #Lee Jang-woo #happy birthday #good boy #boyfriend material #hwanhon

[a-world-in-grey]

I think I'm gonna need a list of Sola's relationship status in different verses because I'm lost.

Nox!Sola gets married at 20 and has three kids by the time canon rolls around.

Dyn!Sola is married but has only the one kid when she's 27.

Hanahaki!Sola is dating but not married?

And I have no idea what the rest of them are doing.

No problem!

In Shadows of Heaven's Light, Sola starts dating Libertus at 20, marries at 24, and they adopt their first kid during the Long Night when Sola is 27-28 (exact timeline on that is still TBD). For reference, Libertus is 5 years older than Sola.

For aus or crossovers where Sola and Libertus don't time travel, they end up adopting another four kids. Sola dies in her sixties from the strain using so much magic over the years had on her body, while Libertus lives into his eighties and gets to meet the first of his great-grandkids.

Take My Breath au (Hanahaki!Sola), Libertus and Sola don't start dating until she's 25 at the earliest, but I may push that back to when she's 26-27 depending what I plan to do with the plot. So she and Libertus are dating but not married by the time canon starts.

Sunshine Never Stops au (Nif!Sola), Sola doesn't meet Libertus until she's 19-20 years old, and while she does get a crush on him, she hasn't at all considered the idea of dating anyone while she's so focused on curing the Starscourge.

Nox!Sola starts dating Libertus when she's 20, like in SoHL, but she and Libertus have a whoops pregnancy when she's 21, resulting in twins when she's 21-22. Sola and Libertus marry Galahdian-style shortly after Sola finds out she's pregnant, but they don't have a Lucian wedding until after the twins are born. Then, during the Roadtrip Nox and Sola take Noctis on when Nox and Sola are about 24, Sola finds out part way through that she's pregnant again, resulting in kid #3 by the time she's 25. Which is all I've got so far for that.

Dyn!Sola again started dating Libertus at 20, only for Noctis to disappear a year later. Sola and Libertus married shortly before Noctis came home with Dyn, and Sola got pregnant about three months before Noctis' Coming of Age, shortly before she turned 25, so she'll give birth in the coming spring, a couple months before she turns 26. As for how many kids that'll be... I think I'll keep that under my hat for now. >:)

But general rule of thumb: if Sola's younger than 20, she hasn't started dating Libertus, and barring a whoops baby or other unusual circumstance, Libertus and Sola date for four years (traditional in Lucian culture) before getting married. And, barring extenuating circumstances such as time travel, Libertus and Sola eventually end up with a bunch of kids, biological and/or adopted.

Hope this helps!

#ffxv #Shadow of Heaven's Light #Sola Lucis Caelum #Libertus Ostium #Nox verse #Blood of my Blood verse

[solcarow]

been replaying this performance of i dont smoke nonstop for the past 4 days . im normal about jt .

#genius move to change the genre of this song in particular…. Her Mind ………….. #the lyrics fit so well with this style and godd the instrumentalists in the bg everything about it’s crazy good #AND THE WAY SHES MIMING A CIGARETTE IN THE SAME WAY YOU’D MIME A GUN . HELLO . #honestly the entirety of this live show was Great the whole thing’s in the channel that posted this recording if u wanna check it all out #mitski using the chair props in first love / late spring to make a funeral portrait’s definitely one of my favorite moments #the shadow of the chair hitting her eyes made it even better #oh and the use of light as a dancing partner in heaven… . #ALSO SINGING MY LOVE MINE ALL MINE AND LAST WORDS OF A SHOOTING STAR BACK TO BACK GOD THAT WAS INSANE #not to mention the way the mirror shard props were shining in both songs ……. #watching these recordings isnt enoigh i need to Eat It #solar-talks