#but god just. i mean. this time around milla really grew on me and i learned to appreciate her and now i really like her

[balancoire]

Fandom: Tales of Xillia 2

Ludger/Fractured Milla (implied)

I found this in my old documents and decided to dust it off and finish it...god knows how old this was LOL

The sun was setting when Ludger and Elle finally got back to his apartment. With all of the Waymarker business, it felt like they rarely spent any time at home.  

Ludger dragged a finger along the kitchen counter; there was a fine layer of dust (aside from the paw prints Rollo had just tracked through it). And the whole place was starting to smell musty.  

Yuck.  

He was trying to pry one of the windows open when he saw the otherworldly Milla sitting alone on the swings outside.

Milla looked so forlorn, so lost. She pushed her swing forward a little bit, kicking rocks with the tip of her boot. Ludger immediately abandoned the window (it was too stuck to open, anyway) and went outside to meet her.

“Do you have a place to stay?”

Milla glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest. “I can work something out. I always have.”

“You haven’t gotten yourself a room at the inn?”

A beat of silence. “I didn’t bring any gald with me,” she finally said, “and before you offer, no, I won’t spend any of yours. You need it for that debt, don’t you? So I’ll figure something out on my own. Don’t bother me.”

“Come stay in Ludger’s apartment with us!”

Both Milla and Ludger turned. He hadn’t realized that Elle followed him out of the apartment, but there she was with Rollo in tow. The girl smiled up at Milla as she grabbed hold of her hand.  

“We can share Ludger’s bed! He’ll sleep on the couch.”

“I really don’t want-“

“And he can make us dinner. Ludger’s a great cook, you know.”

“Please, Elle, I don’t-“

“Or you can make your soup! I mean, I don’t think Ludger has any of those bear claws in his fridge, but I’m sure we can find something else! We could even go shopping for ingredients.”

Milla’s resolve was crumbling fast in the face of Elle’s smile, which only grew wider as she spoke. Milla looked to Ludger for support – but, as usual, he said nothing, instead opting to watch them with a sly grin of his own.  

“W-Well, I… I suppose if Ludger doesn’t mind,” she said after a moment’s hesitation. “It is his apartment, after all.”

“Ludger doesn’t mind. Do you?” Elle asked, turning to give him her best puppy dog eyes.

But he was already nodding. “Of course I don’t mind.”

“Just for tonight!” Milla told them. “And then I’ll find a place of my own until we leave.”  

Elle led the way back inside. Rollo quickly made himself comfortable on the couch beside her, where she was flipping through a children's magazine Ludger bought her when they got back to Trigleph.

Milla stood at the doorway, taking everything in.  

"It's so...industrial. How do you find this comfortable?" she asked, nose wrinkled.  

"It's what I've always known," Ludger said.  

Milla nodded absently. She took a few steps inside and shut the door, but she hovered close to the entrance. She reminded Ludger of a prey animal, ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble.

"What's for dinner?" Elle asked.  

Ludger put a finger to his chin. "Good question. What do you want?"

“No tomatoes! And nothing spicy!”

Milla snorted. “Hm. A little picky, isn’t she?”

“She’s about normal for a girl her age.”

“I suppose so,” Milla said with a shrug of her shoulders. “Let me help with dinner. In return for letting me stay here, I mean.”

“You don’t owe me anything. I enjoy the company. It's just me here now that my brother's...out.”

Milla huffed. “Well, let me help anyway. I’m starving, and we’ll cook faster if there are two of us.”

“If you say so.”  

Ludger riffled quickly through the fridge and pantry. A lot of things – leftovers from their last stay in Trigleph, a half-gone bottle of milk, slowly rotting fruits – needed to be thrown out. There wasn’t much left when he was done cleaning…aside from a few tomatoes, of course, but Elle would have a fit if she saw those anywhere near her dinner.

Milla appeared at his shoulder. “It looks like you have enough for a stew. Or maybe a soup?”

“Ratatouille, maybe. Without the tomatoes.”

“Mm. I’ve never had a ratatouille before. It sounds foreign…but good.”

“It’s a stewed vegetable dish. One of my personal favorites,” Ludger said as he grabbed a handful of veggies that were still good – deeply purple eggplant, some bell peppers, an onion, and a large zucchini – from the fridge. “Julius used to make it all the time. He didn’t always have time to buy or hunt monster meat.”

“I see,” Milla said. She took the eggplant in one hand and hefted it. “Want me to cut this?”

“Sure. I’ll get everything else ready.”

Ludger set to work with the other vegetables. A peaceful silence settled over the apartment; he could hear Elle turning the glossy pages of her magazine and Milla chopping on the counter behind him, but it felt...homey. He hadn't felt this nice since Julius was home every night.

He glanced over his shoulder as he finished the bell peppers and grabbed the zucchini. Milla was quiet, but her expression was content – nothing like it had been when she first stepped inside.

“What have you made besides your…specialty soup?” he asked

“Not much. I’m very busy, you know.”

“That makes sense.”

"I like to bake sometimes... Cakes and cookies when I get a chance. Does Elle have much of a sweet tooth? Maybe I can make her something when things calm down."

"Don't spoil her," Ludger said, though he was smiling.

Milla turned around and playfully stuck her tongue out at him.

“Anyway, speaking of Elle," she continued, lowering her voice, "how did the two of you meet? Is she family? It seems pretty irresponsible to bring such a small child on a journey like this.”

“We met at the train station.”

“Oh?”

“There was an attack on the train we were both riding.”

“And somehow that led to following her to the Land of Canaan.”

"Yes. I couldn't find her parents, so..."

"Do they know she's here?"

"Not that I'm aware of. She's dead-set on finding Canaan."

"What you're doing for her is certainly above and beyond the call of duty. She's...very

lucky to have you looking out for her."

Milla said it with a strange note to her voice, but she was grinning when Ludger looked to her from the corner of his eye. There was something gentle about it.  

Milla didn’t smile often, but when she did, it was warm. And Ludger couldn’t help but grin himself when he turned back to the vegetables.

"Did you finish the eggplant? I'm going to throw the rest of these in the skillet," he said.  

Milla nodded and waited for him while he pulled a skillet from a cabinet, poured in a sprinkle of olive oil, and set it to heat. They added the diced vegetables in and got a baking pan ready to finish cooking the dish in the oven.

"It shouldn't be much longer," Ludger said to Elle. She nodded, but she was busy with whatever was in that magazine – it looked like it was open to a simple crossword puzzle.

"Hey." Milla's voice was soft. She was staring at her boots again, her brow furrowed. “Thanks again. For letting me stay here.”

“It’s no problem. Really.”

“You’re…um… I’ve enjoyed being with you and Elle. You’ve both made me feel welcome in this dimension, even if I don’t belong.”

“Don’t talk like that.”

Her head snapped up then. Milla’s gaze was angry at first glance, but when she spoke, her voice cracked.  

“We both know I don’t belong here. Everyone else knows the other Milla Maxwell. The real Milla.”

“You’re real too. Even if this isn’t your original dimension, it can still be your home.”

“No, it can’t. This isn’t my home, Ludger. It never will be. But I don’t have a choice, do I? I can’t go back to my dimension. Not ever.”

“It could be.” He slipped one hand over hers. “Elle adores and looks up to you. She’d be heartbroken if you left.”

Milla didn’t respond. But she didn’t pull away, either.

“Maybe you feel like you don’t belong now, but…we want you to stay. You’re a good friend to us, Milla.”

“A friend, huh. What if the real Milla comes back?”

“We can deal with that when it happens. And don’t call her the ‘real’ Milla. You’re a real Milla, too.”

Another beat of silence. A sigh. She stared at Ludger with an expression not unlike helplessness.  

“I wish I could believe that,” she said, quietly.  

“You will. One day. I guess I'll have to work on convincing you.”

And a smile – real and genuine – tugged at the corners of her lips.  

"Fine," she said. "Come on. Let's finish dinner."

#tales of xillia 2 #ludger will kresnik #milla maxwell #elle mel marta #fanfiction #fanfic #one of my fav pairings even tho they're SO TRAGIC

[lecliss]

I just love Xillia so much. Good or bad, parts that dont make sense, or that annoy me, or whatever dont matter. It means a lot to me and I love everyone in the cast and the journey throughout the entire game and it really is my fave in the Tales series but of course I love Xillia 2 so much that I cant separate them. They have to be grouped together, lol. Its just one of my fave games ever and it makes me really emotional to beat it again cuz that means its over 😭😭😭😭

#time to go to the sequel and cry over ludger next lol #but god just. i mean. this time around milla really grew on me and i learned to appreciate her and now i really like her #but the thing is. the romance between her and jude is SO noexistant despite the game trying to tell you otherwise #like i get jude having a crush on milla. and its clearly the game is trying to say at a certain point milla reciprocates #but at no point does it feel real. at no point does it feel like any romantic love they have for each other plays a part in anything #aside from blushy fanboy moments jude has #like if it was turned from an idolization crush to jude realizing later on that crushing on her was part of his childishness and naivete #and he grew out of it and learned to respect her as someone to look up to and follow #and milla never developed feelings for jude but instead came to rely on him as a trusted companion like HOW IT LOOKS #then it would be so much better #there doesnt need to be a disclaimer at the bottom of the screen saying 'remember: this is supposed to be romantic' #cuz thats what it feels like in the later half of the game #i think jude crushing makes senses but if it evolved and matured starting when milla 'died' it wouldnt be bungled #there shouldnt have been romance between jude and milla and it really makes me unable to appreciate good moments in their relationship #cuz i cant look at it in the platonic light it actually looks like it is #its like 'aw! look at their bond!' #*bamco whispering in my ear* 'this is romance and they are in love! dont forget!' #'oh... okay now thie just feels awkward' #like. ya know? #anyway. i feel like its one of the top two games that always feel like home to me. i can play it and literally feel like it is my home #i never get tired of playing it and the fact that the sequel exists brings me so much joy cuz i get to see everybody living their best lives #......until ludger's life starts to go to shit tho..... #oh ludger. you really shoulda stayed home. #personal

[roi-chan]

Top 5 emotional video game or anime moments!

OH MAN. This might get spoilery?? I’LL NAME THE SERIES AND ALL THAT BEFORE I REALLY NAME WHAT IT WAS, and also i watch everything 600 years after it’s been out so it’s probably not a surprise.

1. JJBA. Battle Tendency. Caesar. IF YOU DUNNO WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT, YOU CLEARLY HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET. //CRIES INTO HANDS// I cried reading it in the manga. Then the episode came out and to. This. Fucking. Day. I bawl my eyes out. I’ve seen it like, 4 different times. Nope, each time. I’m a sobbing mess. Especially bc Caesar is definitely one of my fave JJBA charas, which says a lot since I’m on Jojolion now!

2. Gintama. Shinsengumi Crisis Arc. I MEAN, A LOT OF SHIT IN GINTAMA HAS GOT ME TO CRY, BUT HOLY FUCK THIS ARC??? Especially the end, with the fight between Hijikata and Itou?? FIGHT WITH HONOR AND SHIT AND IDK HOLY FUCK THAT WHOLE ARC HAD ME WITH SOME SILENT TEARS BRUH.

3. Oyasumi Punpun. OK THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN #1 YOU GUYS. I’M ACTUALLY REALLY SCARED TO REREAD THIS FUCKING SERIES. Let me tell you a story. A couple of years ago, a whole bunch of chapters towards the end came out around Christmas. My family does a Christmas Eve get together every year, for dinner. Early in the day, I decided, oh boy! I’m gonna read the chapters! I cried. I dressed real cute, went to the party. Sat on the couch aND BIT MY LIP, TRIED SO HARD NOT T O CRY. Came home, laid down. Half an hour later, I BAWLED. INTO MY PILLOW. Like straight up, I had to turn the pillow around. Because of. Fucking. Seki. HIS WHOLE... FUCKING... THING GOD I’M SO UPSET.  Idc, Oyasumi Punpun was incredible to read and the wonderful bleak feelings it left me with, this raw realism, it was so fucking refreshing and interesting. Such a roller coaster from start to end. It’ll always have such a strong place in my heart.

4. The Last of Us. THE BEGINNING, WITH SARAH. The first time I played I was like dang, feels bad man. BUT THE SECODN TIME, I SOFTLY CRIED?? HOLY SHIT JOEL, you deserve so much more. And also like, during the hospital scene at the end where he’s like “It’s gonna be ok baby girl” and all that crap?? OR EVEN WHEN ELLIE WAS CAUGHT BY HUNTERS AND WAS KILLING THAT GUY AND HE CALLED HER BABY GIRL FOR THE FIRST TIME?? Idk man that hits hard, he grew attached... :( [btw, HYPE FOR TLOU2!!)

5. Tales of Xillia. IMMA BE THAT PERSON, but honestly this will forever stick with  me. Alvin and Jude’s fight scene. It is literally the defining point of their relationship and their characters as far as I’m concerned. It made the entire game for me. It made me adore those two, as well as love Leia so much. But that’s just my favorite part of the game. Lets talk about Alvin, as a whole. This man catches no fucknig breaks. One part that actually hurt my heart was when [spoiler alerts from here on out!] Milla sacrifices herself, and he looks up and is like... it’s still there. hE CAN’T GO HOME. //THROWS SELF ON GROUND// That look on his face hit me in the gut. Here is this mercenary, tough through and through. And all he wants is to go home with his mom. But he can’t. She fucking dies and he’s all alone. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? EVEN AT THE END, WHEN MILLA IS LIKE lol ok i’m god now. :) Alvin is the only one who is hurt by this?? Jude, yes, but he’s like. I accept, I’m so happy! The world is in better hands! Or whatever, but Alvin. He just found companionship with the others. He found friends and people he can actually trust. But then Milla decides to leave them- just another person to leave Alvin in the cold.

//HOLDS UP MY HANDS, I’M SORRY XILLIA GETS ME RAELLY EMOTIONAL.

Tbh I’m a very emotional person, these are the first things I could think of? I’m sure if I sat down and looked through my video game collection, and remembered all the manga and anime I’ve consumed, I’d have a ton to share lol.

#roi asks #THIS WAS A FUN TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE #THROWS SELF DOWN SOME STAIRS #SUCH PAIN #i love it #Anonymous