Category Archives: Writing

Fiction, non-fiction, fanfiction, poetry…

FFXIV: My Girl

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R’nyath’s been listening to Cidergirl again (I bought the rest of their Soda Pop Fanclub albums; he’s singing a loose translation of Umbrella). Achiyo’s been listening to Parting Ways. (ugh I’m so bad at romcom content)

Oops I almost finished this chapter and then I fell down a Resident Evil-shaped hole. Never played or watched the series before so I started from the very beginning and I’m watching everything in order. I’m up to RE4 at the moment (I’ve watched RE1R, RE2R, RE3, RE3R, RE4R, RE0, and RECV). I love all the characters and I might write some minor, incidental fanfic for some of them. (the other reason this chapter took a while is that it’s been my busy season)

I’ve also gone back to Windows(10). I couldn’t hack it on Linux, it wouldn’t talk to my Nvidia graphics card at all so I couldn’t play games, and a lot of the other things that I want to do on a computer it wouldn’t do either. I am regretful, I really wanted Linux to work, to get away from corporate tyranny. I’m still trying to figure out where to go from here, in both hardware and software, because this is probably not a viable longterm solution, but the upshot for the fic at this exact moment is that I can play FFXIV again. (I’m playing on Achiyo, who is currently up to about Chapter 25 fic-wise. I’ve decided to take her all the way to Endwalker. I was holding off on her because I wanted to make an Achiymeric AMV, but NG+ means I won’t miss out on anything.) (Did the level 60 PLD quests and thinking I’d like to write an Achiyo-training-Constaint sidefic now.)

(also Heated Rivalry is surprisingly mid, and Akatsuki no Yona is fantastic)

Chapter 72: The Ambassador

 

Chapter 73: My Girl

The Scions looked at Achiyo, standing pale and still where Asahi had left her. “Are you quite well?” Alphinaud inquired, coming over to her. “You looked as if you were about to faint in the ambassador’s arms for a moment there.”

“Please don’t joke about that,” Achiyo whispered, still wildly unsettled. She could not think of another time she’d had so much concentrated, venomous hatred directed at her, for any reason, not even in Ishgard when they thought she was a spy… It must be for Zenos’ death, of course it was for Zenos’ death, the Echo told her he hero-worshipped Zenos if indeed he was not completely in love with him. Continue reading →

RE2R: the day after

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With all the hype around RE9 going around, I suddenly decided to get into the RE series. I’m not much of a horror gamer, but the protagonists in these games are so hot I’ll risk it. XD (Jill is very high on my “I’m not really gay, buuut-” list). I finished watching RE2R a couple weeks ago and immediately needed to write this hurt/comfort fic. At the end of one of the playthrough videos I watched, there was an episode of Umbrella Chronicles showing how Ada got out of RC which began with a cutscene explaining that Claire went on looking for Chris, and Leon and Sherry got picked up by the government… but maybe that could be like a day later? And first they can have a rest in a hotel? They deserve it. I don’t think I’ve quite got the characters right, but here is my fluffy offering for the fandom anyway.

Funnily enough, I ship almost everything shippable in the RE series, except no Wesker ships. I’ve watched RE1R, RE2R, RE3, RE3R, RE4R, RE0, and RECV. I did not like RE0, but I would be interested in a CVR; Steve looks like a short un-Scottish version of Reid.

Rated T/M-ish for language and compromising positions. (This isn’t even the spicy version tho)

Eventually they’d been picked up by someone in a pick-up truck who took them to the nearest town, which was a godsend. Claire had had a couple granola bars left in her pockets, and Leon had half a bottle of bottled water, but all three of them were starving and thirsty, walking along that desolate rural road. The car driver looked in amazement at their worn-out state, Leon’s bloodied bandage, Leon and Claire smelling like the sewers, and all three of them covered in dirt and sweat and grime, and said they could ride in the back of his pick-up. Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Ambassador

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My family got me cat-shaped fidget squishies for my birthday and they’re the greatest thing ever

Chapter 71: Blackest Night

 

Chapter 72: The Ambassador

Achiyo disembarked from the ship into the Doman Enclave and looked around in amazement. It had changed greatly since she had left so abruptly on the eve of Doma’s liberation. Within the low protective walls there now rose a multitude of new buildings, and she could hear the sounds of yet more construction – sawing, hammering, foremen giving orders. A few fishers sat on the docks, though their efforts were in idle pleasure – further down the dock was an actual fishing boat unloading its silvery cargo.

The Garlean ambassadors had made pleasant remarks along the entire trip, praising the architecture, and the industriousness of the people, and lamenting the destruction of war that the industriousness sought to mend. They seemed genuine enough, especially the third-eyed Garlean with the glasses, who nearly fell out of the skiff at one point peering at a distant manor on the shore. Young Asahi frowned at him, and the Garlean – Maxima, he introduced himself – stayed put after that. Continue reading →

FFXIV: Blackest Night

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I love the DRK 70 quest so much. 

The concert went well! I made an annoying audible mistake in Zanarkand, but everything else went pretty good (and the audience was making noise anyway so fingers crossed they missed it). And then I wiped out from concentrating so hard. Took a very rare extra day off this week and finished this chapter with it. Was hoping to get further into 4.2, but at least we’re moving.

Chapter 70: The Sword of Tamehiro

 

Chapter 71: Blackest Night

It had been three days since Vivienne had returned Myste-less from Gyr Abania, and she was practically prowling the street below the Forgotten Knight while Sidurgu and Rielle watched her. “…Godsdammit, Myste. Does he want me to track him down, or what?”

“He needs to return the remainder of the aether he stole from you, if nothing else,” Sidurgu said. “He said that when this was finished, naught would remain of him? Bloody vague and ominous, to say the least… We’ll just have to press him for answers when we find him.” Continue reading →

FFXIV: The Sword of Tamehiro

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Sorry fic readers that I was gone so long! You know, holidays, vacation, and I found myself struggling to find the spark of inspiration I originally had for the first half of the chapter. But fun news, I’m going to be playing in a FF concert next weekend! A big, official, orchestral one! Boy the ticket prices are exorbitantly nerd-taxed (average of $100, which is rather ridiculous – you can see world famous superstar violinist Ray Chen for less than that). I’m really excited, though I’ve been practicing like mad – the arrangement of Aerith’s Theme, for instance, is quite tricky (many ripply arpeggios), and they only gave me 10 days to learn the music. (now I wanna play FFVII… we’ll see if it works on my PC, I’ve been struggling to game ever since I switched to Linux)

If you haven’t seen the Trash Taste podcast interview with Koji, I recommend it – Koji goes into quite a bit of detail on the localization process and it’s very interesting. The guidelines they set for language use for tone and consistency are just as strict as I thought they might be, and then some! (Though not without perhaps some missteps – nobody wants to translate Urianger, lol!)

Chapter 69: Hinganisme

 

Chapter 70: The Sword of Tamehiro

“Okay, so you said this is perfectly safe,” R’nyath said to Tam, as they collected in the aetheryte plaza of Revenant’s Toll.

“I mean, ‘e survived t’other way, so how bad can it be?” Chuchupa said.

Tam grinned. “Just group up with me and we’ll get there.” Continue reading →

FFXIV: Hinganisme

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R’nyath and Chuchupa: Nice.

Chapter 68: Raubahn’s Return

 

Chapter 69: Hinganisme

Achiyo took Chuchupa and Tam, and set out to track down Yllamse to invite her to join the Scions. “She is a flighty wanderer, is she not?” Achiyo said to Tam, who almost certainly knew her best.

“Yes, but less so than you might think,” Tam said. “The first place to ask is Ala Mhigo.”

Achiyo blinked at him even as he began a group Teleport. “Do you not have her linkpearl?”

“No,” Tam said, and the Teleport went off. Continue reading →

FFXIV: Raubahn’s Return

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The poem Achiyo recites part of is (called in this English translation) “Looking at the Moon and Thinking of One Far Away” by Zhang Jiuling, which I found on this page.

Yllamse’s player (also named Yllamse) was recently really inspired by my personal FFXIV world, and is writing a fic about her character in my world?! This feels like fanfic for me teehee. It’s pretty helpful for me in writing her character, too!

I still feel kinda bad for the time I was in voice chat with some FC members and 4.1 had just dropped and I was grumbling about, idk, crafting or something and one of the other members was getting sniffly over Nanamo and Raubahn saying goodbye. I didn’t realize she was at the emotional part or I would have shut up. D:

Chapter 67: Salt and Suffering

 

Chapter 68: Raubahn’s Return

“And this is my new boyfriend, Oremont,” R’lhifre said, gesturing at the gangly, awkward-looking light-pink-haired Elezen trailing behind her. Either he was short for an Elezen, or he hadn’t finished his growth spurt yet – he was just taller than R’mon Nunh. Probably about the same age as R’lhifre. “He’ll be staying for dinner.” Continue reading →

FFXIV: Salt and Suffering

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Can I say I’m disappointed that in Drowned City of Skalla, you no longer get to turn into fluffy ghosts to cross the chasms?

Still throwing class quests at the characters before they get back on MSQ’s Wild Ride.

Chapter 66: Ishgardian Intermission

 

Chapter 67: Salt and Suffering

R’nyath looked around in wonder, flicking salt-water from his tail. Finally his gossiping in every tavern in the city, under the not-actually-a-pretext that he was a bard and wanted to hear new tales – because that was totally true too – had paid off, and brought enough indirect clues about treasure to point them to the ancient city of Skalla. Which was mostly figured out by Alphinaud, of course.

Alphinaud was actually quite excited to be involved in something less realm-shaking for once. “The news of Doma and Ala Mhigo’s liberation has kindled the flames of revolution in every corner of the Empire. I hear the province of Dalmasca has already risen up in rebellion… Which means the Garleans must surely have their hands full. What better time than now to indulge in this treasure hunt?” Continue reading →

FFXIV: Ishgardian Intermission

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If you haven’t seen The Echoes of Achiyo Kensaki yet, it’s been posted!

Omg I rewrote the garden scene like 5 times before I found the right soundtrack to help me though (it’s Joe Hisaishi). Very self-indulgent again but I regret nothing.

I used The Dreamers from Tsubasa Chronicle OST as music inspo for the sparring scene. : )

I’m not really sure about this chapter, but there’s only so long I can bang away on it so here it is for better or worse. It may be a while before the next one is out as I’m quite tired in general and trying to take it easy even for fiction writing. And I’m playing FF3! Look at all these names I remember from Crystal Tower raids! Noah, Xande, Unei… (and I renamed Ingram to Corey because when Drak was just starting to post NEST videos, he used Ingram-as-Warrior for Corey’s sprite and that’s all I think of now. I did not rename the others though I could have hahaha. I do like their default names – Luneth is such a nice name!)

Chapter 65: Dust Settles

 

Chapter 66: Ishgardian Intermission

Achiyo walked the small garden of Fortemps Manor, thinking intently. The sun was soft and warm, and within the walls of the manor there was no snow; in fact, there were flowers blooming. On the first few days that had been a delight to her, to see flowers in Ishgard, but now she did not take notice of them, or even the world around her. Continue reading →

The Echoes of Achiyo Kensaki: Part 4: Percival

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Part 3: Yanxia

 

Percival sneezed explosively and made a horrible schnorking sound as he sniffled. “Why am I sick,” he moaned, looking like he wanted to claw his nose off his face, huddling under blankets in a corner of the hut.

“Because you’ve been running all over the countryside in rain and snow, fighting beasts and monsters and gods know what else without a break for months,” Hiina retorted, stirring a thin soup on the fire. “Achiyo-chan, did you get the medicinal tea?” Continue reading →