#dammit G'raha

[potassium-pilot]

FFXIVWrite 2023, Prompt 1: Envoy

"Oh, are we close?" Surito Carito asked, the tiny tonberry trying to lift himself against the edges of the ship to see the surroundings. Behind him, Dia gave a boost so he could see.

"Wow", he breathed. "I'm only sorry that my memory is failing me in the geography of my time. This place is breathtaking." Lily appeared at his side to join him in looking.

"So this is Old Sharlayan", Alka Zolka commented. "I admit, I'm a bit overdue for coming here. Ever since they opened their borders to adventurers, I had been meaning to visit."

"Me too", Setoto spoke up. "I simply can't believe they would allow a tonberry to speak in a place like this."

"Well, I admit I pulled a few favors, but Scholarch Montichaigne seemed positively tickled by the idea of having someone who lived in the era of Nym come and speak on its behalf", Dia explained. "I can also tell you with certainty that no small amount of students want to hear about it. There's a lot of historians here and they are all very curious about what happened to the nation."

"And none of them are going to try and kill me, correct?" Surito asked. "I saw the looks that the Limsan citizenry gave us. Had it not been you protecting me, I'm certain I would have been set upon ere I set foot on the ship."

"So long as you stick by me, you'll be safe." Dia pulled a box nearby so Surito could stand on it. "Now just keep looking at the ocean."

The ship made its way to Scholar's Harbor slowly but surely. Around 10AM, it docked and allowed its passengers to depart. Dia, Surito, Setoto, and Alka Zolka made their way towards customs and arrived to the lalafell woman who presided over it. She took the names and professions of Alka Zolka and Setoto, who simply stated that they were scholars of Nymian history.

"And your name?" She asked of the tonberry.

"Surito Carito"

"And your profession?"

"I am a scholar."

"Of what field?"

Surito seemed confused. "Er, simply a scholar, madam. A member of the Nymian Royal Marines."

The official raised her eyebrow slowly. "Er...why would we need a soldier here?"

Dia shook her head. "Forgive him. He's an envoy of the former nation of Nym, here to give a lecture on its history and culture. There should have been a form explaining his special circumstances sent to you by the Studium."

"There is, yes. I simply need to confirm his name and profession as is listed here. At any rate, all appears to be in order, and you are all granted permission to enter Sharlayan at your leisure. Welcome."

With that, Dia guided the three of them away from the gazebo and into Sharlayan proper. As they walked, all of them noticed as eyes gawked at the creature walking about the city. Some even ran at the sight of Surito's waddle.

"Oh dear...", Surito whispered.

"Don't worry. They are merely ignorant. This is why you're here, is it not? To inform", Alka Zolka tried to reassure.

"Surely, it won't be too long until people begin to understand", Setoto concluded.

Even with their encouragement, Surito kept as close to Dia as he could. As he said, when people saw the ex-Warrior of Light leading the tonberry, they knew better than to try and interfere. Finally, they arrived at the new headquarters of Baldesion Annex, where Dia arranged rooms for them all to stay. Upon the doors opening, Ojika formed a big smile. "Ah, Dia! I'm glad to see you and your friends have safely-- EEK!"

Surito jumped at the shriek of the lalafellan innkeeper. Dia scowled. "Yes, he's a tonberry. No, he does not have a stabby death awaiting you. His name is Surito Carito, and he's a guest lecturer, so I'd appreciate you not screaming at him."

"How do you do?" Surito greeted nervously.

"S-sorry. I've never seen one up close before. I've never even heard of one that could talk before."

"They don't, usually", Surito explained. "Dia here helped break me out of the trance that traps all of my brethren in a state of perpetual violence."

"Oh?"

"If you want to learn more, I'd recommend sitting in on his lecture", Setoto encouraged. "It's tomorrow at 11AM."

Ojika looked up to Dia, who nodded in affirmation. "I think I can make the time for that. Why don't I show you all to your rooms?" With that, the three were led to their quarters for the evening. Upon reaching Surito's quarters, Dia and Surito couldn't help but hear footsteps running towards them. Upon the turn of their heads, they spotted a red-haired miqo'te rushing them.

"Dia!" G'raha exclaimed happily. "Always glad to see you." He looked down and noticed the tonberry, making a curious look form on his face. "Er...Dia?" G'raha darted his eyes down in Surito's direction.

Dia looked down to her scholar companion. "Go on. Introduce yourself. I know him; you'll be safe."

Surito cleared his throat. "Hello there. My name is Surito Carito, one of the last scholars of Nym and one of the last members of the Nymian Royal Marines."

G'raha's jaw remained wide open and he gawked at the marine in shock. "I...I'm pleased to meet you. G'raha Tia, at your service."

"Forgive me, but you are a miqo'te, are you not?"

"I am."

"I've never met one before today. Ah, this day has been full of new experiences."

"Much the same for me", G'raha agreed, "I've never met a tonberry before today."

Surito's face squinted in happiness. "I hope you'll be one of the attendees for my lecture tomorrow morning."

"A lecture?" G'raha looked up to Dia, who nodded. "Well, I can certainly try to make time for something like that. What is your lecture on, exactly?"

"Nymian culture and history."

"Considering your interest in Allagan history, I think you'd be interested in a society that took full advantage of Allagan summoning arts to mold into the tactics of the Nymian scholar", Dia pointed out.

"That would be interesting, yes. Even without it, I must admit I know little and less of the nation."

Surito nodded. "Then may I see you there." With that, Surito hopped up to reach the doorknob, opened it, and let himself into his room. G'raha, still reeling from the idea that he just met a tonberry that didn't want to stab him mercilessly, merely blinked.

"You all right?" Dia asked.

"I...have a lot of misconceptions I need to clear up", he admitted.

"Everyone does. That's why he's here", Dia smiled. "Oh, did you have plans for lunch?"

"Not a single one", he lied, having initially intended on using it to do some research on the Twelve.

"Then you should join us. I intend to take everyone to the Last Stand. I was going to ask Krile too."

"I'd love that! I'll see you then."

A few hours pass, Dia using the time to help Krile with her research, telling her about her own, and listening to Krile vent about the difficulties of restarting the Students of Baldesion. As the stroke of 1 in the afternoon, Krile declared, "Now might be a good time for a break, do you not agree?"

"I couldn't agree more. Let me fetch everyone and we can go to lunch." Dia left Krile's study and gathered Alka and Setoto. Upon arriving to Surito's room, Dia knocked.

"Who is it?" Surito asked.

"A ghost. Thought I might haunt you a bit, just for kicks."

"Come in, Dia."

She opened the door and smiled at Surito. "We're heading for the Last Stand for lunch. You're in for a treat. It's the only restaurant with remotely edible food in Sharlayan."

"Oh...I'm fine here, thank you."

"Surito?" Alka asked. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing at all. I just believe it might be better if I just kept to my room during my stay."

"Oh none of that, Surito! We want you there", Setoto protested.

"I don't wish to scare anyone again."

Dia breathed a sigh from her nose. "Come on, you two."

The three left the room, Surito using his solitude to try and practice his lecture. About twenty minutes in, his door burst open and a crowd of people flocked in. "Hope you're decent!" Dia laughed.

"Oh! What is this?" Surito exclaimed.

"This is lunch. You're eating it one way or another", DIa insisted. "I've brought G'raha along and our host."

"Hello. You must be Surito Carito. My name is Krile Baldesion. I've been looking forward to meeting you."

"Hello to you, Krile. Thank you for your hosting my compatriots and I. You're quite possibly the most welcoming presence I've encountered here."

Krile frowned. "Dia told me of Ojika screaming at the sight of you. I apologize for him. I'm afraid that while I informed him of a guest speaker coming to stay with us, I failed to inform him of what to expect of you. I apologize for his conduct."

"It's of no consequence. At least he didn't run at the sight of me like some of the people I've encountered today."

Dia placed lunch on his table. "Well, let's forget about them and get some food in our bellies. Come on up."

The five sat around the table, G'raha in the middle surrounded by Dia and Krile on one side, and Setoto surrounded by Alka and Surito on the other. Dia handed Surito an Archon burger. "You'll love it!"

"So, Surito, what inspired you to come and give a lecture in Sharlayan?" Krile asked.

"In truth, I have been looking for how to revive the art of the Nymian Scholar for some time now that we have a cure for the plague in our grasp."

"Plague?" G'raha repeated.

"Yes. You can see its effect on people by looking at me, and you can see that the cure works with one look at Setoto here." G'raha and Krile snapped their attentions to Setoto, who smiled at them proudly. "You're Nymian?" G'raha exclaimed.

"I am. You wouldn't be able to tell with one look at me, but I am one of the few students of the art left. Were it not for Dia, Alka, Surito, and the work of my father, we may not be speaking today."

Dia smiled as she chewed. Upon swallowing, she added, "We had discussed it for a while and agreed that the best way to try and keep things going was to utilize modern day historians. Montichaigne seemed to rather like the idea."

"I don't blame him in the least", Krile commented amusedly. "This is the first lecture of its kind- a discussion from a citizen of a society long thought to be dead."

After the remainder of their time was spent listening to Krile picking Surito's brain on history, the five stood up and went their separate ways for the evening.

------------

The morning dawned on Sharlayan. Surito awoke and rose from his bed before he scrambled to find his notes. Upon finding them and reading them through, he heard a knock at his door.

"Who is it?"

"Remember that ghost from yesterday? She said you owed her 20 gil, so I'm here to collect."

"Come in, Dia."

She opened the door and entered alongside yet another new face.

"Oh...hello...", Surito greeted hesitantly.

"Hello", she greeted back warmly. "My name is Ameliance Leveilleur, a good friend of Dia's. I understand you're to give a lecture in the Studium today, is this correct?"

"I am. My name is Surito Carito. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"As am I. If you're going to give a lecture here in Sharlayan, however, we thought it best if you might look the part." Ameliance reached into her inventory and pulled out a small, white Sharlayan robe, sized for a lalafell. "What do you think?"

"That...would be lovely. I wish I knew what to say...thank you, I..."

"But of course. Go ahead and change into it for me."

Upon the two looking away, Surito changed into the white robe and looked in the mirror.

"It looks nice."

They looked back and judged for themselves. "It does", Dia affirmed, "Although it is a little big..."

"That much, we can change. If you wouldn't mind helping me with adjustments, Dia, we can get started."

After an hour preparing the robe to fit him, they looked upon their handiwork proudly. "Now that's a Sharlayan."

"Don't worry; we can hang the Scholar armor on a mannequin and show it off that way", Dia suggested.

"I would like that. It's important for Scholars to have the appropriate gear", Surito reminded her to Dia's amusement.

"Now that we have you dressed up, why don't we show it off, hm?" Ameliance suggested.

"I...I don't know."

"The only way people will get used to seeing you is to see you. The more people that see you walking peacefully with Ameliance and I, the better", Dia reminded him.

He took a deep breath and braced himself. "All right. Let's go."

With that, the three escorted Surito out of his chambers and led him around town. To his shock, fewer people seemed outright horrified at the sight of him as they walked around town. Some even cooed at the sight of him in their robes, like they would a child. He wasn't sure if that was any better.

After enjoying a leisurely walk about the city-state, they arrived at the Studium where they were directed to the lecture hall. Upon opening the doors, he was surprised at the amount of attendants that had already gathered, and the event wasn't due to start for another fifteen minutes. He sat in a chair on the side alongside Dia, Lily on his shoulder, Alka and Setoto (the latter having arrived about ten minutes before Dia and Ameliance did) and stared at the crowd of students.

Surito had a flash of memory. Nymian universities that trained young people all had their own robes to don in uniformity. They would gather and discuss, await the professors before they would start their work. They would ask all sorts of questions, pose theories, discuss history, magic, current affairs of the time, spend countless hours writing papers and preparing arguments. They would laugh together, they would cry together, bemoan assignments together, and cheer in triumph in their accomplishments together.

To see these young minds carrying on such similar traditions warmed his heart. It hit him in this moment that no Calamity, no apocalypse, and no tragedy in the world would ever dim a curious mind.

The hour drew nigh for the lecture to begin. Surito walked up to the podium that was adjusted for his stature and looked out to the crowd, who all looked to Surito to pay him heed. As he looked upon the faces of these students, he could see them- his classmates, his former teachers; he was back in his element.

He took a deep breath and spoke aloud.

#ffxiv #ffxivwrite #ffxivwrite2023 #surito carito #alka zolka #setoto seto #g'raha tia #krile baldesion #f elezen wol #ojika tsunjika #fanfiction #she's hanging w her scholar buddies #and support them to the death dammit

[eorzeashan]

Reverse City spoilers but this guy owns my Mihile's whole ass. He doesn't even have a face but he moved me in this story so much. Sad author guy who put his entire soul into his books but also needed the courage of another human being to have the will to live. Kind of boring in his own way but he was so cool-- 'we're all sad lonely pathetic outcasts who want to see our next sunset' theme got me ok

Not to mention there's something really intriguing about isekai'ing a guy from the normal world to this alien one while the PC is from a fantasy world, so you're technically both isekai protags but reversed as well

#ok tag rambling time #listen. Mihile as the token radiant knight that authors and nerds dream of and never think could be real #isekai stories always feature the ordinary guy ending up with the extraordinary fantasy heroine #in this case. i think you can see where i'm going #the hero of fantasy...dammit it's g'raha tia again #but Barr got INSPIRED to live and write his best book because of the Hero #and i think. he wrote an extra embellished romance scene in there #fate stay night headassery abounds? I hc they fucked. and fucked nasty #if you're an average author from the taxpaying dimension and saw a beautiful knight of fairytale legend #come to know me by accident and we save each other #no one would be able to stop me. no one wou #maplestory #reverse city spoilers #also camping with a homeless guy is its own kind of rizz #IDK his appeal is from his grunginess maybe he stinks so what!!!! everyone in maple is so radiant the stink would make him more attractive #im right. just so you know. #LITERALLY NO ONE KNOWS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT BUT I HAVE TO SAY

[cinnabun-faerie]

Vampire!G'raha Tia Headcanons

A/N: This is a bit sad it seems. Dammit. Oh well. I think this one is nice regardless! ^-^ Please enjoy!

Warning: Obsessed!G'raha, slight yandere tone, mention of blood

@atlasdiatia @healersadjust

Frightfest '22 Masterlist

he wasn't always like this

a monster

once he was just a boy who was hungry for adventure

and who wanted to be by your side

but once bitten, he hungered for something more

you, his dear friend

no

you were more than that

his first love

and to protect you from himself, he chose to lock himself away

other than his human mission

all was well in this new world he had gone to

at least as far as anyone aware

no one knew that he starved himself until insanity

and then he would go on a rampage

he would regret it once he was in his right mind

he'd imagine what you'd think if you were to see him

speaking of, he followed your adventure through the books he'd read

until he would discover your death

insanity would kick and he'd have to lock himself inside the Occular so that he wouldn't hurt anyone else out of anger

he wasn't living 100 years or more just to lose you

he was living it in hopes that you would meet again

except he would need to have you by his side at all costs

he craved for you

and not just for your blood

so when he'd finally summon you after multiple attempts, he'd have to restrain himself from attacking you like some ravenous animal

it was much easier for him to lull you into some sort of security

not a false one, but one that you'd not be able to escape from should you try

you were to be stuck in his web

but when he'd get close to you, he'd almost snap

his monstrous side taking over his good natured mind

why else would he send you on wild goose chases to fix the realm?

at least when you'd come back, he'd be back in control

but that was until the day you got him alone in the Occular

and started asking questions about G'raha Tia

your good friend who was so sweet

you'd not forgotten about him

good

and when you let it slip that you had been in love with him, he could not help himself

"And if I know where he is? What would you do?"

"Anything."

"Anything? That's a dangerous answer, Y/N."

his sanity would start to drain from him when you'd come close, almost enough to look under his hood

he'd have to bite back a snarl as he'd pull it farther over his face

"I won't look, but I know it's you. If you thought I couldn't tell by your voice, you're mistaken."

and there it was, every last bit of his human sanity gone from him leaving only the monster behind

"You said you'd do anything."

"Anything, G'raha."

"Be mine. Forever."

"Of course."

he would grab your wrist and bring it to his lips, his fangs piercing into your soft skin

he would soon let up only to move his lips to your neck, his thirst for your blood only becoming stronger

he would be too dazed to hear your soft and weak call for him

when he'd hear the faded beats of your heart would he finally pull away, covering him mouth allowing Urianger to heal you in time

he'd stay away from you for a while after that, worried that he would lose control once again

but you'd find a way in, holding your hand out to you

"It's okay. You need to eat."

"Y/N, I am a monster. I almost killed you."

"I'm still here, aren't I? So eat."

and for years, he fed on you and only you

but eventually he would turn you, holding you close as you fed from him, slowly changing from human to monster

he wouldn't lose you every again

and you would not die at his hands

your eternity could be spent together with him and only him

#frightfest 2022 #ffxiv #g'raha tia x reader #ffxiv headcanons #ffxiv writing #g'raha tia

[mmorpg-escapism]

Whoops, two posts from one cutscene. Here we go!

We have been hearing just about everyone who is close to G'raha (The Exarch) fuss over him for not slowing down enough to take care of himself. Lyna, Alisae, and Beq Lugg have all at one point or another tried to bop the old man for pushing too hard.

AAaaaaand now we see the consequences of his own actions. The dude walks up to us on the tower, interrupting the threat-party the WoL was having with Elidibus, and is pretty much glowing. In a bad way. His arms are extra crystalline now, and it's scary enough to make the WoL start forward in concern. He's nonchalant about the entire thing, but we (the player) saw that the process is very painful in an earlier cutscene.

My guy needs to take like five weeks of vacation, but refuses to even think about it. All he has on his mind is that he promised to get the Scions home, and he's hyperfixating on that to the detriment of his own health.

But it's fine! He has a plan! ...we're gonna get interrupted before we can actually hear it. Dammit!

#ffxiv escapism: shadowbringers

[charbunnies]

HBD GRIMSLEYYYYYY 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 u can use this ask to talk about ur blorbo of ur choosing if u want. I HOPE TODAYS GOOD TO U

TY VIXEN MY BELOVED!!! <3 i hope it's good to me too, we're watching advent children w/ my mom and that will be. An Experience

Anyway! i believe i shall talk about my current on-the-mind meowmeow, mr. vincent fowler who is living in my mind rent free because he's my focus for miqomarch. here he is!

i originally made him because i wanted a character in xiv to sexualize (sorry) because my main wol is a BABY teenager. and i wanted to play with mods. but then i got attached and now vincent makes me feel shrimp emotions

he's got like. four different verses but the main one i focus on is wol!vincent because Ough. he's a sharlayan moonkeeper miqo who had a special interest in primals as a kid and got scolded, put down and bullied for it for his entire childhood and he has a bit of a complex about it. when the sharlayan exodus happened (when vincent was 12), he broke into the great gubal library and stole a bunch of books on primals and ran off into dravania/coerthas in the middle of winter :^)

he got picked up by a young estinien and accidentally weaseled his way into becoming estinien's adopted younger brother. estinien renamed him to keep him from standing out as much around ishgardians so he just white-ified his name (vincent was originally named vincen'to fawhra. and estinien went "hhmmm how about vincent fowler". really creative estinien thanks). and then vincent joined the dragoons and, at 17, accidentally became the second azure dragoon. which he did not want! he became a dragoon as a cover for studying summoning/primals and then he got too good at it. so he wasn't exactly thrilled and got shoved into a position of power WHICH LED TO:

he got sent off to fight garuda alone when the ixal summoned her because the ishgardians wanted him dead, and because vincent's azem was the one who created her and risked a lot to save her from being destroyed as a creation, she recognized his soul and let him kill her to spare him. and because of the way smn works (yknow, have to have killed the primal to summon it!) suddenly vincent found himself able to just. summon her. he can't summon any of the other primals it's just her. they're best friends but they act like they hate each other and they make me cry so so much (it's the red-string-of-fate i-can't-let-you-go-even-though-i-can't-remember-why AGONY)

also he was childhood friends with g'raha and y'shtola but obviously lost contact when he ran away. g'raha had a kid crush on him that he never really got rid of and long story short, they end up together after shb but not without like, a LOT of agony

guys who make me really, really insane. vinraha my friends my meowmeows. i don't want to talk too much about their stuff because that's like. this reply is getting so fucking long but just know that they make me feel like screaming

but yeah. he's a weird drg/smn/drk combo where a lot of his attacks/abilities utilize garuda in some way. i call him a windcaller :)

UHHHH other than that, he's pretty and a little bit of a whore and extremely loyal to a fault and he puts on a scary face until you talk to him for like 5 minutes and realize he's actually very sweet. he gives good hugs and has wide shoulders and he's beefy and i want to kiss him on the face.

OH AND LAST THING: he and sidurgu had/have a weird relationship where they had a one night stand one time and sid thinks about it all the time and vincent never thinks about it at all. sid is still hopelessly in love with him despite the fact that it's been years. rielle likes vincent more than sid and also bullies sid about still being Like That with vincent. they permanently have weird sexual tension and also vaguely don't get along and it is so fucking funny to me. sid sees vincent showing raha around ishgard and vincent's making cat kissy eyes at raha and sid's like Oh. God Dammit. i think it's funny when grown ass men are weird like this.

anyway that is all <3 hope you enjoyed my ted talk and ty again for letting me talk about my blorbo

#long post #vincent #grim.txt #asks #TY VIXEN SORRY FOR THIS LONG ASS RESPONSE I'M JUST AUUHGH #mental illness caused by meowmeows

[akirakirxaa]

12. Cupping your partner's face in your hand before kissing them (Dealer's choice!)

Spoiler warning for Endwalker. Turn back now if you haven't completed up through Endwalker proper.

-------------------------------

Akira sat peacefully among the books within the Studium, thumbing her way through a tome but barely absorbing it. After the newness of Sharlayan had worn off, she discovered there was little to do for one that more often employed their sword. Especially one such Warrior of Light that was supposed to be on bedrest.

She loved G'raha, she absolutely did, but he had become an absolute mother hen on their return from Ultima Thule. She supposed she couldn't entirely blame him. Had the roles been reversed, she'd have locked him in the annex and assigned a guard to keep him from doing such foolhardy things ever again.

She almost did anyway, but considering this time she was the one that returned half-dead she would have been wholeheartedly overruled by the rest of the Scions. The rest of the Scions that were encouraging this behavior. Sometimes she even imagined she could sense her ancient friends scolding her through the Azem crystal from the Lifestream.

"Have you seen- oh!" The door to the Studium had burst open, revealing a harried G'raha, hair frizzing out of its braid, scarf forgotten, vest hanging off his shoulders. His startled red gaze met her amethyst, and she chuckled as he seemed to deflate before rushing over to her.

"You," he started carefully, sitting next to her but keeping a careful distance, likely to keep his wits about him. "Are supposed to be resting."

"I'm an adventurer, Raha!" Akira whined, slamming the book shut. "I'm going crazy cooped up in that room!" G'raha took her face in his hands, his sigh somewhere between exasperation and adoration.

"Just a little longer?" he pleaded, ears sheepishly flattening to the sides. "For me?" She rested her hand on his. She knew he was just worried. How many times had she insisted he stay behind her, stay outside, stay out of the way, because she so feared waking without him one day?

"Alright," she relented. "But Tataru wants to take me to some island in three days and I'm going, dammit!" He gave a small huff of laughter before pressing his lips to hers. It was soft and tender and she swore she would do anything he asked if he just promised to do this every day. It was cheating.

"It's a deal," he pressed his forehead to hers, and she swore she could hear him purring.

#ffxiv #final fantasy xiv #wol x g'raha tia #wolgraha #oc: akira kirxaa #no beta we die like y'shtola doesn't #romantic #fanfiction #drabble #writing prompt #my fanfiction #ship: drunk on stars

[diademreigned]

care, sender takes care of receiver when they're sick. // FFXIV Dark to any of your FFXIV muses!

meme

Just one more tome, he exclaimed; just one more and then everything would be finished. It was foolish to think he'd get anywhere with that statement, let alone by himself.

He'd gone through a restricted section of a swarm of books riddled with information relevant and not, and the outcome fared only slightly better to the current one he'd succumbed to.

Oh when he woke he'd have a fit.

What was the last thing G'raha remembered? Fingers across the cursive written scrolls, flipping through page upon page, with nary anything that caught his eye that he hadn't seen before. Eyes skimming for portions of the text that deemed useful.

Nothing. Several more pages, and nothing.

He'd skipped out on the Scion meal to pace about his room, nearly scuffing his leg against his chair when he sauntered a little too closely. Surely there might've been something. Surely the blurring of his vision, and the growling of his stomach would've attested to the need to rest.

If it weren't for the damned headache that spawned, and his ever trembling body.

Maybe he ought to strike fire to the fireplace just beyond, that would be likely to - No wait, his hand had graced the edges of the bookshelf a few inches or so from said fireplace.

A knock rang just to the side, one of his ears turning to regard it. "A moment please." His vision spiraled, swam. A ringing burst through his ears, and G'raha hadn't heard the door open, but he could plainly see a figure racing his way as he met the floor.

Dammit all, dammit.

When G'raha finally had the energy to open his eyes. a tilting room that lasted several seconds, before it reverted. Warmth surrounded him and he could only guess he'd been laid in a bed. It shifted against the springs when he shifted, alerting the other before him.

Who had - Crimson eyes met another pair, nearly hidden behind the smoothed pure whitened threads. Normally one would've looked at him with anger, reprimanding him for neglecting those basic necessities to the point of illness, and yet -

"It would appear I can't keep even the slightest inconveniences away from you can I, my dear friend?" Far be it for G'raha to think he'd not worry anyone within the Scions, much less on of the finest Azure Dragoons ever to grace a presence.

He knew Dragoons were perceptive, but perhaps Dark was . . . just even more perceptive. Was it he who brought him here? Or did he call upon another? Such questions didn't matter, there was already concern there, written plainly.

When the scholar moved to sit up, with some difficulties, the Dragoon was quick to jolt from his otherwise comfortable position, either to suggest otherwise or offer assistance, both of which G'raha would've felt guilty about.

"Apologies for worrying you. It's not like me to neglect basic needs of care. Forgive me, I have been . . ." Then he shook his head, peering down at his lap. "Nothing I say will make that concerned look upon your face disappear will it?"

Red-headed ears flicked as a gesture of appreciation, holding up the still otherwise damp rag.

"I wager I've a fever, then? You do all this? I am in your debt, but you have my gratitude for even more than I can say. If it eases any amount of burden on your shoulders, be it worry or otherwise, I'll take these few hours to rest." How else would he get better and join the brilliant Dragoon in the remainder of their adventures?

He ought to get better right away.

#G’RAHA TIA // ♦︎ — › asks. #:: tenebriism :: #:: queue :: #G'raha be like well I guess for you I'll take a sick leave - I don't want you getting sad #I bestow upon you something nice - G'raha appreciates him very much ;;; hope you enjoy

[blaackbiird-archive]

"i am a firm believer in the credo, 'if you are going to fail, you might as well fail spectacularly.'" ( g'raha to eidric! )

"I'm fairly certain you embody that credo more than any other living person," Eidric teases with a good-natured grin.

Although at the moment, with the smoke billowing out of Tataru's kitchen, perhaps it's Eidric that embodies it moreso.

The fire is out, thank the gods, but the smoke will take a while to dissipate. Thank the gods again that Tataru is out for the day...

"I don't know what happened," he admits. This has never happened before! He may not be a master chef, but he knows how to cook, dammit!

#ic #eidric amsel #aetherbled #\o/

[toadeyes-miqote]

Would have sworn that it reminded me of Demon Tabard from Crystal towers raid...

"Guess not... By any chance you were aware of the raids that went on in your tower? Were you there somewhere? Helping out?"

"Yeah I like the way it looks."

"In green shades."

"I suppose this matches. Coultenet and Ysayle wore one like this too."

"What brought up this sudden nostalgia may I ask?"

"Well, met a male Sun Miqo'te you see. His head was fill with dreams of adventures. Looking up to heroes. But as I told him and Alisaie and Ryne. With great power. Comes great responsibilities. Most stories are written by those who see the end results. Not many have the chance to walk with the ones involved. And experience their struggles with them. Dying is easy. Its the ones left behind that have to pick up the pieces. I didn't do what I do for glory. there's someone I had to find. "

"You will live to see tomorrow." "…Such confidence…"

"… You will."

"Exarch, there is something I need to ask you." "If it is within my ability to answer yes." "Who else have you taken from me?" "No other. Thancred was the first attempt." "..."

--------

I'm already spoilered by media on his identity, didn't have context since I joined before Endwalker's launch. Seeing his pics and playing the raids had me wondering if Demon Tabard of Aiming was based off his color scheme or design. And Indigo Ramie Tabard of Aiming became my dyeable replacment until I can get the forgiven tabard of aiming.

Its a bit unfortunate that she doesn't remember him much (sorry Exarch) other than Crystal Tower raids being another one of Cid's consultation jobs and the Bloody Banquet happened a day or two after the raid in my timeline(12 hrs IRL.... sorry Exarch).

Sorry Exarch, she's talking about her mate not G'raha. Exarch Stop. Overthinking.

Sorry Exarch... she's not the marksmen the PR team crack her to be~~<3 No Exarch, I'm not bullying you.

Hate to break it to you Exarch. Thancred set up her stupid friendship threshold. Most who meet her, ends up seeing the hero, few have seen the person. Its on you Exarch. The twins are a good example, one see the hero, the other see the person.

Haucherfant was in that weird spot where he started seeing her as the person after a period of seeing her as the adventurer/hero hence the heartache. I have shorts written for him but I have yet to find the exact timeframe.

I have to do this without shooting up your robe Exarch. Thanks for wearing shorts. Who's bright idea was it to have him position like this? And why is the shoebill keeping an eye on things?

I"m sorry I'm too embarrassed to look up his robe to see if his Exarch model has a tail. It felt rude to do so on realising the way he was posed. Cut scene didn't show his tail.

Bonus

"You guys are not dancing dammit!"

#ffxiv #Book 5 - Shadowbringers #miqo'te #Crystal Towers #never meet your heroes #Miqo'te papers #Cat Gramps #Crystal Exarch #I"m sorry I'm too embarrassed to look up his robe to see if his Exarch model has a tail #I forgot to check if Exarch has a tail. #Demon Tabard #All your fashion sense is belong to Demon Tabard of Aiming #Tracking Hylnyan

[sajiri]

Sooo... been wanting to do another Exarch artwork, and I super want to take him on an adventure like our poor baby dreams of ( 人ꈍ∇ꈍ) So I tried to do a mashup of fancy Exarch and archer G’raha. Well...it might need some adjustments, and Im hoping will look better in colour. We shall see!

#FFXIV #Shadowbringers #FFXIV Shadowbringers #Crystal Exarch #G'raha Tia #Shadowbringers spoilers #Let me take him on an adventure dammit!

[mintdrop]

vira ixia // verses

main verse   vira’s main verse is the verse i had in mind for her when i created her at shadowbringers launch; previously an assassin of the highest caliber, she “left” the profession to become a hostess/courtesan -- one who is highly sought after. aside from one client, not even her most trusted are given even a hint of her past. instead, if someone drunkenly rambles about needing a hit done, or that they need information not easily unobtainable, she recommends her close friend “maya,” and offers to pass along a message and meeting point for them to discuss terms.   in reality, maya is simply vira under the disguise of glamour magicks - the only magick she can cast with proficiency. maya appears as a miqo’te; one who is rather tall for her race. vira cannot yet change her hair color or eye color, and often leaves her beauty mark visible as well. because of this, she keeps her face partially obscured with a masked turban.   currently, vira resides at the headquarters of the company cerberius, serving as a personal courtesan of the company’s leader, kye. she also serves to feed him information on whatever he requests, as gathering intel from drunk, loose-lipped men and women is a particularly easy job.

alt verse // the warrior of light   vira’s WoL verse is about as standard as it goes, following the story for the most part. however, she is extremely proficient in magicks in this verse, and fights as a red mage. deviating from the story, vira is head-over-heels for g’raha tia, and vice versa. on ao3, i’ve written a short two-chapter fic about their reunion on the first (please note that the second chapter is explicitly nsfw).   although she knows that she can’t currently leave the scions and her duties as the warrior of light, vira does plan to eventually return to the first to live permanently with g’raha. 

#;; vira ixia #;; alt vira #;; timecrossed lovers #ffxiv #vira/g'raha was actually initially r'aemi/g'raha because i adored him during the crystal tower quests in ARR #i jumped ship in HW because i thought he was just gone forever but yoshiP threw me a lifesaver and called me a fool #r'aemi doesn't exist anymore but that won't stop me from shipping him with my character dammit #i posted this pic on twitter first and someone asked me if it was selfcest. i wanted to die

[bitey-bitey]

The crystal exarch not being in trust after the first dungeon is honestly really upsetting

#Let me take him on an adventure dammit #Hopefully future msq dungeons will still have trust and hell be able to go in again ;-; #Or just straight up add him to the trust menu post game outside msq #Thatd be nice #ffxiv #final fantasy 14 #final fantasy xiv #ff14 #g'raha tia #crystal exarch #ffxiv shadowbringers #shadowbringers #shadowbringers spoilers

[so-mordor-itis]

Prompt list a #13: “handle with care” wolcred, wol with war trauma? —schrodinger’s idiot

Eyooooo some Thancred content coming to you live--there's slight Endwalker spoilers below if you mind stuff like that!

     The blankets on your bed were cold that night. You couldn't sleep, not this time. It would've been useless to attempt it, knowing exactly why you were awake in the first place. The flashbacks gained strength over your mind once more. Sleep was gone by that point. 

     Whenever this took place, you wrapped your hands around a pillow, clutched it with most of your strength (you didn't want to pop it), and took deep breaths. Usually, that did the trick. Usually. Somehow, tonight, nothing seemed to pull them away. The memories of all that happened. 

     Books. Perhaps a book would be a helpful distraction. To drag you to another world, maybe could calm your erratic heartbeat. The subject mattered not, only that you could forget, even for a little while. 

Without a care, you didn't scan the title of the book you chose. You simply relied on instinct, feeling the spine for wear. You flickered on a lamp, and began to graze the pages. Allagan technology. Maybe you could recall the tales G'raha had recited to you in the process. 

Your heartbeat had forgotten why it was aflame. 

--

"You do realize," a voice called you from behind, "that it is nearly dawn?" 

Ah. 

You knew whose voice that was, the gods above knew you did. 

You didn't even need to turn around to know he had a hand on his hip. Or would his arms be crossed? You supposed that depended on his current mood. 

"Is it?" You responded, voice slightly hoarse from not using it all night. "I...I suppose time ran away from me." 

"I see." He said. Though, you weren't entirely certain you managed to convince him. Thancred could read you thoroughly as if you were a book he had read many a time. He always could, even when you didn't want him to. 

You don't want to tell him what happened. What caused you to stay up the entire night reading about technology that only certain people would be truly interested in. (While it certainly had been an intriguing read, some words were lost to you.) 

You hoped Thancred didn't notice you had nightmares. That you squirmed in your sleep, remembering Zenos' cold grip on your wrist, that isolating feeling he left in your soul when he replaced it with his own. You hoped he didn't realize your fear of having history repeat itself. 

Thancred called your name, probably hoping you'd turn around to face him, but you do not. You couldn't. Not after your fumbling excuse. Then he could read you even more clearly. 

You heard him sigh. "I know why you're up, you do realize that, yes?" 

Dammit. 

"I…" you wanted to say more, to deny his claim. Yet you knew you couldn't even if you begged and pleaded on your knees. "I couldn't sleep." 

"Clearly. I can hear it in your voice, love." You heard his footsteps approach you, getting closer and closer as the seconds rolled by. "And it's okay to tell me these things." 

"I didn't want to burden you." You hated how small your voice sounded. How weak. You felt like a child being scolded by a parent. You knew you could always explain to him why you were up, why you felt these things. The words were stubborn, it seemed. 

Two warm hands placed themselves on your shoulders, his breath was now against your ear. "You could never burden me. You know this." 

"You need your sleep too." 

"While I would agree with that, I could easily say the same to you." 

"Thancred…" 

He kissed the back of your head, a tender gesture that made you nearly burst into tears. "Darling, please don't hold in your feelings. It does more harm than good, bottling them up." He said it as if he had experience. Which he had. It gave the words more emphasis. "I encourage--implore you to express these to me. I can help, at least somewhat. You have my heart, exactly like I have yours." 

"Don't drop it," you murmured, "It needs to be handled with care." 

Another kiss, this time to your cheek. You turned around to face him, allowing him to finally get a better look at your face. He frowned for a split second, probably noticing the bags under your eyes. Thancred then gave you a smile, a small one, but warm nonetheless. 

"I wouldn't dream of it."

~~

|Tags:|

@crytalstellar

#ffxiv #final fantasy xiv #final fantasy imagines #thancred waters #thancred x reader #thancred x wol

[mmorpg-escapism]

Oh god I'm not ready for this next set of scenes T_T I know exactly what's coming and I am NOT ready. Here's another Big Post with a cut in it :)

...wait, Vauthry's still talking. He's not quite dead yet, so we get to endure a minute or two of him ranting before he finally croaks and we absorb all that Light... The WoL is gonna burst soon. But we brought night back to Kholusia! Woo!

And now for an Echo. Vauthry's origin story! To make a long cutscene short, his father was Eulmore's former mayor, ousted, and Emet-Selch plays on his desire for power to get him to do a terrible, terrible thing to his unborn child: merge it with a Lightwarden.

Whoops we're out of the vision and Not Handling the light very well. Urianger's plan is... to do nothing. Hello, Exarch. ...how did you get here so fast? Oh, and it's not nighttime anymore, the Light's back.

God the voice acting is so good. I've said this a lot, but like. You can hear the Exarch's *acting* through it. He hates how much this whole plan has hurt the WoL, and through gritted teeth he is playing the villain to make his own intentional sacrifice more palatable to everyone present. Not that everyone is buying it.

And now the charade is over, and of course it's Y'shtola who sees through it. Urianger comes clean by way of not denying any of it, and I'll be honest the spike of crystal growth moving up the Exarch's face looks an awful lot like a streak of tears right now.

The hood comes off, and behold! G'raha, but old! This is the point where, if you're paying close enough attention, you'd realize his acting waaaaay back at the beginning of ShB was top tier. Not that, I think, the WoL would necessarily believe it for the whole time. Not after the little 1-on-1 we had before the Talos grabbed Mt. Gulg.

We can choose to call him by his name, or stay silent. I always choose to say his name - if someone's going to even try to sacrifice themselves for us like that, it seems really cruel to not acknowledge them for it.

...who gave Emet a gun? Dammit. G'raha is down, and the plan has failed. Emet is disappointed in the WoL for not living up to his expectations and containing the Light, but he forgets that we're not doing this alone. Ryne helps keep it under control long enough for us to... well, to go beat him up. Especially after he steals G'raha away from us >:(

I love and hate the WoL POV during this scene, all whited out and blurry. It's fitting from a character and narrative standpoint, but damn if it doesn't feel like a flashbang even against the already-bright surroundings.

I think Emet-Selch has severely underestimated how much faith the Scions and WoL have in each other. They'll all fight tooth and nail to save each other and everyone else, and this time is no different.

We're waking up back in our room in the Crystarium, like it was all a bad dream... until we look outside to see a world engulfed in Light again. Ardbert fills the WoL in on everything that happened between passing out and waking up and it's... not great. But everyone is still trying to save the WoL, even Ardbert in his own way.

I knew we'd have an entire zone left at the end, but even now on my third time through this expansion I still hoped it would end some other way. That we could do it without needing any heroic self-sacrifices. But no, that's not the point. We succeeded the way we have so far because we had help, not because we did it alone.

#ffxiv escapism: shadowbringers

[killemwithkawaii]

A Submission from the very thirsty Nyuu-chan:

JOIN MY G'RAHA CULT DAMMIT

---------------------------------------

A Note from K.E.W.K.:

#submission #K.E.W.K. answers #those wiggles tho

[voidsentprinces]

G'raha: You're not just going to let me die like that, are you?

WoL: *gasp* My shoulder Exarch.

Emet-Selch: Don't listen to that guy! He's trying to lead you down the path of righteousness...I'm gonna lead you down the path that ROCKS!

G'raha: OH COME OFF IT!

Emet-Selch: You come off it.

G'raha: You!

Emet-Selch: You times infinite creation.

G'raha: Dammit it!

Emet-Selch: Alrighty, listen up Warrior of Light. I got three good reasons, why you should just walk away from the First. Number one, look at that guy! He's got that enigmatic hoody thing. I'm not even wearing a mask!

G'raha: We've been through this...it's a look.

Emet-Selch: Right...that's a look and that's a dress.

G'raha: ROBE!

Emet-Selch: Reason number two...look what I can do. *hand stands*

WoL: I don't see, how that--

G'raha: No no no...he's got a point.

#{ I WILL CROWBAR EMPERORS NEW GROOVE INTO ANYWHERE I CAN } #{ pull the lever Ranjit...WRONG LEVER! }