Final Fantasy Fun

I'm always interested in mentoring and big sister / little sister dynamics between female characters, so of course I latched onto the early interactions between Rydia and Rosa in FFIV. That scene on Mt. Hobbs inspired me to sketch this:


Rydia and Rosa, Final Fantasy IV by ~auronlu on deviantART

I've written Fran tutoring Penelo in black magic, Fran tutoring Lulu (of all people), and some Yuna and Lulu magic-meta, so this slots into that trope.

A reader on my Final Fantasy X Inscriptions webpage has managed to decipher one of the few inscriptions that had me stumped: Cid's tattoo.

Quoth "Sayosa":


Very curious!

There are a few other surprises hidden in the inscriptions -- I'm pretty sure I've found the name of Seymour's mother, for example -- but ... Don Corneo?!

I heart Google. Now and then I discover treasures quite by accident. Such as this:

Link: argle-fraster.livejournal.com/53115.html
Author: argle_fraster
Title: Time/Plane
Fandom: FFVIII/FFX
Character(s): Ellone, Auron
Rating: T
Warning(s): Spoilers to Auron's secret
Word count: 1400

Title: Love Her and Despair
Chapter 16: "How Does Her Garden Grow?"
Final Fantasy X
Characters: Auron/Lulu, Wakka
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2400
Summary: A meeting of old friends (and enemies).
Navigation: Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Map of Pilgrimage - Links to All Chapters

The Story Thus Far: The Crusaders mount a new Operation Mi'ihen in an attempt to save Djose Temple's aeon, to no avail. Auron, guarding Summoner Isaaru, is felled by lightning during Sin's attack.

( Chapter 16: How Does Her Garden Grow? )  

I seem to have missed the bus on this one entirely, since I see it was posted in springkink slightly over a year ago, but... GUH. One can't follow everything.

For those who may have missed it:

Title: The Many Adventures of Walking Man
Final Fantasy X, AU
Auron/Braska, Jecht
Two-parter: second half has some NC-17 bits
Part I   Part II

As some of you know, I tend to lean towards stories where at least one of the main roles is a female character (especially erotica), but that's utterly irrelevant when you've got a well-written story. The characterizations and speech patterns in this one are spot-on, which is my main fanfiction junkie kink, and there's that complex blend of idealism, sadness, and prejudice that makes Spira epic, tragic, poignant and real. Secondary characters have meaningful secondary roles. There's even mythology, and a running gag based on Native American mythology that is spot-on for the Al Bhed.

I know I was having a discussion with someone here a while back about the fact that Auron/Braska seemed almost canon; at the least there seemed to be a certain amount of unacknowledged love (or unrequited), yet most of the Auron's-past yaoi is with Jecht. Here's a believable (and painful) Auron/Braska story that explores the flaws of all three characters beautifully.

Anyway, it's worth reading, if you missed it the first go-round.

Title: Love Her and Despair
Chapter 7: Half-Truths
Final Fantasy X
Characters: Maroda, Auron
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1360
Summary: Maroda calls Auron on his BS.
Navigation: Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Map of Pilgrimage - Links to All Chapters

The Story So Far: Thirteen years after Yuna falls defeating Sin, Isaaru and his brothers return to pilgrimage, teaming up with Auron. He's keeping his secrets, including Sin's identity.

( Chapter 7: Half-Truths )

 

Final Fantasy X
Memories of a Guardian (13)
Characters: Lulu, Ginnem, Belgemine
Rating: G
(illustration!)
Note: new usericon by mydistantskies

( Day 41, Year 8 of Braska's Calm: Djose Shore )

Ran across a few good authors on FF.net. Poor dears.

Two recs, one of which I posted already on bangonfic:

And Shut the Gates of Mercy on Mankind by sagdragon, good one-shot about Isaaru coming to grips with failure following the Via Purifico. Interesting post-game conversation with Yuna about mercy. K rated.

Foundations by Broken Visage, dark one-shot envisioning Zanarkand's despotic dynasty and the birth of Yu Yevon. This is one of those great pieces that brings to life a period about which we know almost nothing, defines a culture and characters with a few deft brushstrokes, and hints at a whole lot more backstory by allusions, the way Tolkien will casually drop in a reference to the "cats of Queen Beruthiel" and leave you going, "wait, wait, tell me more!" Rated K+.
This author looks skilled, and I suggest browsing further -- I haven't yet but intend to.

I'm a little rusty. I decided to start playing FFX again to get my groove back.

Title: Prelude to Pilgrimage
FFX, Besaid, the night before Yuna sets out on her pilgrimage
Characters: Lulu, Luzzu, Kimahri, Wakka
Rating: G
Words: 820

( Luzzu writhed against the leaves in stoic silence. Lulu drew her knuckles to her mouth, barely noticing the sting. )