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blooms-of-ice · 4 years

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[ RP LOG ]

Lin pays Wyda a visit in jail.

Aislinn Like these things tend to go, the ship ride over seemed to drag on for much longer than Aislinn ever remembered the trip taking. By the time they made berth, she was ready, the first one down the plank and she made her way to the Aleport gaol with purposeful strides. She spied the guard, though the sight hardly slowed her steps. Instead, she approached and with little preamble let go a Maelstrom salute that walked the fine line between the cynicism of a veteran and the eagerness of a recruit. "Til sea swallows all." she said by way of greeting. It certainly couldn't hurt to start off by flex her credentials a bit. To let him know she had served under the Maelstrom.

The guard blinked in surprise as Lin approached. He could sense the determination radiating off of her, but for what purpose, he had no clue. It worried him somewhat. The guard returned the salute, and then sat back down in his chair. “Til sea swallows all. What can I do for you?”

Aislinn "Here to see one of your prisoners. Aiswyda." she replied, her tone clipped and efficient, her gaze steady on the man.

Ah, right. He had been told by the other guards to expect more visitors for that one. The guard flipped open a book and turned it towards Lin. “Alright, alright, but hold your horsebirds just a second. You gotta check in first. Sign here and mark today’s date in the box next to it.”

Aislinn Her shoulders relaxed somewhat. That was easier than she expected but she certainly wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. With a single nod, she leaned forward and signed and dated the book, a small tremble in her script the only outward sign that she might not be as self-possessed at the moment as she projected.

“Mhm. ��ppreciate it. Follow me now.” The guard got up from his chair with a mighty stretch. Several, loud pops could be heard as he bent from side to side. How long had he been sitting?!

After some searching he eventually fished out a ring of metal keys from his pockets. With a nod of his head, he beckoned for Lin to follow, as he made his way deeper into the Aleport jails.

Aislinn stepped back to let the guard move past her before falling into his shadow as he led the way into the jail. Unlike those who had never stepped foot inside, she knew better than to gawk, to cast her gaze around like her head sat on a bleeding swivel. Instead, she seemed intent on something else entirely, her hands clasped together in front of her.

Some inmates bothered to open their mouths and heckle them as the pair moved past. Others didn’t notice them at all, preferring to sleep on the cold floor or simply stare at the stone wall ilms from their face. The guard grunted. “Feh, the new ones are always so fiery. Just takes a few moons to shut ‘em up. Anyway, here’s your stop. Ye got until me shifts up.” He motioned to a cell, and then took a spot against the wall not too far away.

Aiswyda was again staring out the window, intensely focused on how the clouds slowly moved into and out of her view. At the sound of the two stopping by her cell, she turned around. The sight of Lin filled her drained body with an echo of her usual spunk. She jolted up to greet her. “Ah! Lin! It’s so good to --- !!” There was a loud bonking sound. Wyda had hit her head on the jail cell bars. “Oww..”

Aislinn As she silently followed the guard, Lin seemed immune to the catcalls and abuse hurled their way. In reality she was too focused on discretely palming the smallest of her gemstone bracelets from her wrists into her hand. If Heartwood's report had been correct, she wasn't going to like what she saw when she met Wyda. As the guard came to a stop, she nodded and passed him a look of thanks as he went and took up a spot further down the wall...

Aislinn All that self-possessed efficiency went out the window as Wyda seemed to come to life, rushing to the front of the cell and colliding with the iron bars. Aislinn winced, hurrying to meet her, the bracelet flat in one hand's grip as she held the bars. "Wyda." she breathed out in a rush, her eyes scanning over the woman's face in concern. "I only just heard. How're you holding up? They treating you okay?"

Aiswyda: “Er, well. Um.” Wyda eyed the guard who stood nearby, watching for any reaction. “To put it lightly, staying here makes the Heartwood company housing feel like a five star resort.”

Aiswyda rubbed at where her head had made contact with the bars. As she lifted her arm, her sleeve fell slightly, exposing a constellation of bruises and half healed cuts that dotted her arms. Wyda quickly lowered it back down and pulled the cloth down, self conscious. “How've you been?”

Aislinn And there it was, that flare of anger at the sight of the injuries. Like a red hot blade drawn from a forge. She had never had the temper Barengar had, she spent most of their childhood talking him down from doing something stupid, but seeing people she cared about mistreated was one surefire way to stoke the coals. She breathed out, slowly. Nothing good could come from her being angry right now. Nor was it what Aiswyda needed. Another breath until her temper had cooled into something sharper. "Nevermind that." she said with a shake of her head. "All the same. The Company's working to get you out of here as soon as we can."

Aiswyda felt a wave of emotions wash over her. Gratitude, but also guilt. She was so glad that Lin had come to visit, and that the company as a whole was working towards getting her free. But did she deserve all that effort? If only she hadn’t gotten thrown in jail to begin with! If only she could free herself on her own. She hated being a burden on others. It stung like sea salt on an open wound.

Aiswyda: “Ahh, yeah! I hope it’s not too big of a bother. I can’t wait til we can all look back at this moment and laugh...Or forget about it. Both would be fine.” Wyda cracked a small smile, but even that motion seemed to give her trouble. She rubbed her temples afterwards.

Aislinn "What're you talking about, bother?" Aislinn said, almost wanting to laugh but somehow the sound wouldn't come out of her throat. "You think any of us would just let you sit here for something you didn't do?" her lips compressed as she watched Aiswyda's obvious discomfort. She tapped the bars with both forefingers and glanced meaningfully at her hands in a subtle attempt to get the woman to grip the bars as she was doing. "Not sure when you'd have the time to go off and do some pirating without any of us knowing about it, after all."

Aiswyda: “Haha, anyone who ‘pirates’ as a hobby would get my respect. It’s more of a full time commitment, from what I hear.” She managed a dry laugh at the idea. A pirate in the Black Shroud? It sounded more like the beginning of a bad romance novel.

Aiswyda noticed Lin tap the bars of the cell. Her eyes quickly glanced up at the guard, who was still staring intently at the two of them. But he couldn’t see through Lin’s back, right? Wyda wrapped her hands around the bars...somewhere that was blocked from the guard’s view.

Aislinn "Piss poor pirate, otherwise." She leaned closer to the bars and shifted, her body hopefully blocking the guard's view of one hand. Slipping her hands over the Seawolf's own as any concerned friend would do, deft fingers tucked the bracelet snug between one of Wyda's palms and the iron bars as she continued talking, her voice never wavering or speeding up out of nervousness. As if she had done this kind of thing before. Maybe not *exactly* this, but something like it. ...

Aislinn "The report said someone by the name of Momori Mori's been round to see you. That she's going to help us track the Red Argos down. What's she like?" She tried to communicate with a level gaze, willing Wyda to understand about the gemstones. To remember how Aislinn managed her aether manipulation. To follow her lead and not give the little bit of sleight of hand away.

(Aiswyda) oh ho! :O )) (Aiswyda) these are like, the aether filled bracelets right? )) (Aislinn) ((Yup! The backup batteries she uses ^_^))

Aiswyda ‘s eyes widened as the other woman slipped her a gemstone bracelet. She was unsure what to do with it, and that anxiety manifested with her completely clamming up. Her hand tightened around it as her mind raced. Think, Wyda, think! Okay, so she had seen the other woman use it while healing. Perhaps she could use it to heal herself?

Aiswyda: “GHf. Momo? Oh! Yes, the weird lalafell.” Wyda fidgeted with the bracelet. “Err, she’s kind of weird. Very focused. Really odd sense of humor. But I guess overall, she seems...professional?” If by some freak accident, Wyda began to tap into the bracelets power, aether draining from them with alarming speed. The aether seemed to just...get sucked into her.

Aislinn As Aiswyda spoke, Aislinn nodded, her attention rapt on Wyda's face but one finger of her grip continually moved along the back of the Seawolf's hand. To any casual observer it would look like nothing more than the nervous tics of a worried friend. But in reality Aislinn was slowly but surely writing out an arcane formula that would draw aether from the gemstones to lessen or block some of the pain stemming from the Aiswyda's injuries. However, she felt the sudden aetherical tug ....

Aislinn as the bracelet began to release the stored aether much sooner than she anticipated. Her calculations ceased. What had happened? The stored aether just seemed to drain away. Her brow furrowed. A hiccup in her plan. "Weird." she repeated, though she might not have been referring to Momori. Quickly, she recovered. "But she's willing to help, which is a plus for her in my book." She didn't dare try to tap into her own aether, suddenly recalling the one time she had tried to teach Wyda some magic. She passed the woman an apologetic look.

Aiswyda - Though the cuts and bruises remained, Wyda found that her headache had mostly disappeared. She desperately wanted to ask Lin about the bracelet, and if she had used it right. Honestly, the Seawolf hadn’t intended to use it at all. Whatever just happened, just sort of happened. Naturally.

Aiswyda: “Yeah, she is. But not as. Weird as. Those nifty bangles I see you wearing, eh? Magic. How the heck does that work?” Her voice was turned up a notch higher, as she tried to word her question in the least suspicious way possible.

(Aiswyda) wyda: NOTHING TO SEE HERE!!! :) :) )) (Aislinn) ((Aislinn: oh no)) (Aiswyda) Random! 957 (Aiswyda) oh well thats good )) (Aislinn) ((Lol!))

The guard doesn’t pay Wyda’s ramblings any mind. He yawns, in fact.

Aislinn did her best not to startle but it was a good thing the guard couldn't see Aislinn's face. She stared wide-eyed at Aiswyda as if to say 'By the Twelve, Wyda, you can't just ASK people how they do magic'. But with the oddness of the rapidly drained aether, she could guess what the Seawolf was getting at. With practiced calm, she pushed up her sleeve to show the woman a better view of her bracelets. "Well, sure. You know. Remember how I told you there were different schools....

Aislinn "Some use their personal aether, some use aether stored in other ways. Those grimoires you see the bookish type toting around. They're written with enchanted ink. Made from rubies or other...*stones*" she said pointedly as she brushed her sleeve back. "Some have to do some tedious calculations to make it work...others just seem to pull aether from the air or...what have you. Quickly."

(Aislinn) ((Annnd that's my first ever 'Mean Girls' reference in RP ^_^)) (Aiswyda) pff I love it ))

Aiswyda nods along. The jail isn’t exactly bursting with aether - a measure that the Maelstrom probably put in place to keep mages from simply blasting their way out. But the bracelet is. Or was, at least. With more purpose this time, she tries to draw aether from the drained bracelet, and nothing conclusive happens. With a sigh, Wyda covertly slips it back to Lin.

Aiswyda: “It’s a bit hard to learn conjury on the fly. I MEAN. You know, theoretically speaking? Haha!” Wyda gives the guard another worried glance. And then, in a hushed whisper: “Thanks anyway.”

Aislinn she nods, slipping her hands back to the bars. "I don't know. Some people pick it up quick. With conjury, say, a person really isn't limited to their own aether or some book. Technically speaking everything alive has aether." she hurriedly adds. "Plants." trying to make it clear she's not advocating Wyda tap into another person's aether.

Aiswyda: “Plants. Right.” Wyda looked at her mostly bare cell. Stone walls, a stool, a small window. Really not much to write home about. “A bit out of luck in that department then.”

Aiswyda - In terms of living things, there were only the guards and other inmates to draw on. Though perhaps if a gull flew close enough by the window... Wyda shook her head. Just idle thoughts.

Aislinn bit her lower lip as she followed Aiswyda's gaze around the small, cramped cell. "Insects." she added lamely. She heard the guard shift behind her. She knew what that meant. Time was almost up. She let go a troubled breath. "Listen Wyda, I've been where you are. Except I didn't have anyone. You have Heartwood. We're gonna get you out of here. Bet on it."

Aiswyda: “You’ve been where I...?” Wyda frowned, displeased by the sudden news. Though neither the time nor place, she reached out and gave Lin’s hand a squeeze. “That’s awful! If you ever need someone to talk to...”

Aiswyda - The guard cleared his throat, and Wyda jolted slightly. “Take care of yourself Lin. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.”

Aislinn gives something approaching a smile. Leave it to Wyda to be concerned on someone else's behalf no matter how dire her own situation. "I will worry. And I'll be back to visit again tomorrow. I'll be here every day until that Momori has something for us to do about this."

Aislinn taps the bars once and then drops her hands. "Stay strong."

#ff14 rp logs #Aiswyda Nuthalwyn #aislinn north

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mikiyochii · 5 years

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Hello dear followers <3

I got a lot of messages about Momori and today I can finally and officially announce her: Pullip Momori is a collaboration with the talented Nénelle et Lalluli and an official Pullip release with 株式会社グルーヴ（Groove_Official.Pullip ✨🍄🌳🌲

It was a super exciting project and it was so hard for me to keep silent the last months. When I got the request, this was by far the biggest honour for me which an artist may receive: Being part of the Pullip family <3 I started my doll hobby because of Pullips and still love their cute faces and I always enjoy painting them.

Momori (from jap. Momo + Mori = Peach + Forest) resembles the beautiful, delicate Mori Style - one of my favourite japanese fashion styles ever. The complete outfit design was made by Nénelle et Lalluli who is - in my opinion - by far one of the best tailor for Mori clothes for Blythes and Pullip. If you take a look at her FB you can see how much love into details she gives to her outfits.

Haaa~ I'm very happy to see her alive now - after doing her concept from sketches and all the hard work which went in. It's like a long dream comes true <3

And I want to thank everyone for their lovely messages and their support. I'm overwhelmed how many people did recognize this girl already and I'm really flattered. Thank you from the bottom of my heart <3

Doll concept/Face up by Mikiyochii Outfit Design by Nénelle et Lalluli Pullip Momori © GROOVE / Ars Gratia Artis (AGA) Release: October 2019

P.S. If you love and already preordered her... you will LOVE the box, it's precious <3

#doll #pullip #groove #aga #arsgratiaartis #momori #fashiondoll

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lettersnorth · 4 years

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The Jail Visit

"She's what?" Aislinn's backside had barely brushed the bar stool before she had shot back to her feet.

"In the gaol." Daito repeated, his voice holding no more emotion than it had the first time he said it. Nothing ever seemed to surprise the world weary Raen. "That's the word around here. They have a letter upstairs if you care to read it."

Wordlessly, she whirled from the bar and made for the stairs, everything else falling by the wayside.

"Your drink." He called, voice still as flat as ever as he slid it down the counter.

Hand snaking out to catch it, Aislinn eyed the whiskey with some measure of regret. She had planned to take her time and enjoy it, a well-deserved moment of quiet reflection after returning from Ul'dah dusty and tired but with the undeniable glow of success. The business with the cartels, the mysterious new drug that had been plaguing the streets, and the unwitting alchemist at the center of it all, had finally been put to rest thanks to her and the red-spectacled 'Doc'.

The simple drink was admittedly a solitary celebration by necessity. Both she and the man she worked with for so long had agreed, the fewer people who knew of it, the better. Stopping the continued creation of a dangerous drug wasn't something she could just go around proclaiming. Nor would she. It'd invite too many questions. Why her, for one. Why a quiet, bespectacled, bookish woman who, by all appearances, had always lived a simple, law-abiding life? What could she possibly know about drugs, the slums of Ul'dah and its street gangs? All good questions Aislinn had zero interest in answering.

No time for reflection now. She downed the whiskey in one shot, its fiery burn giving her something to focus on, as she pushed the glass back toward the bartender before hurrying up the stairs.

Aiswyda. In jail. How was that possible? She had just seen the Seawolf at Barengar's wedding before Aislinn herself had to rush back to Ul'dah to tie up some loose ends. It was ridiculous. There was no way the woman would ever do anything to warrant jail time. Aislinn steps slowed as she reached the top of the stairs. How many would say the same about her? And yet, she had.

Hesitation now brought her to a halt as she suddenly recalled the evening Aiswyda had confided in her about missing time. Suns she couldn't recall. The La Noscean beach having been the last thing she remembered and then suddenly waking up in the deserts of Thanalan suns later, unable to say what had happened. Could that have something to do with this?

With a swift shake of her head, Aislinn was in motion again. None of that was important now. Aiswyda was in the gaol. The why of it could wait.

At the front desk, she asked to see the letter the Roegadyn had sent. No need to specify more than that, the clerks all knew of what she spoke.

"It caused quite the commotion, when this came in." One said as he handed the letter over.

Aislinn read it carefully a handful of times but, try as she might, she couldn't decipher whatever it was Aiswyda had decided to cross out. Only that she was being held in Aleport and that the Yellow Jackets definitely had the wrong person.

"What's being done?" She asked, working to keep her tone business-like as she folded the parchment up and handed it back.

"The leadership pulled together a team, sent them out to Aleport to try and secure her release. From the subsequent report there was no dice. The Maelstrom isn't budging on this one. Not even for the Adders."

The miqo'te clerk took the letter and handed her the job report. "She's always the cheerful sort. I'm finding it hard to believe they peg her for a pirate."

Aislinn made a noise of agreement as she poured over the report. Pirate. Even accounting for her disconcerting blackouts, the idea of Wyda moonlighting as a pirate seemed far-fetched.

A curious mention of someone named 'Momori Mori' at the end of the report. Also on the trail of these pirates of the 'Red Argos'. She’d agreed to lend aid. Interesting.

Well, there was nothing for it. She needed to be on the next ship out to Aleport. Handing the clerk back the report with a distracted murmur of thanks, she moved behind the counter and headed for the private back rooms of the manor. She’d collect her things and be off. It shouldn’t take long, she hadn’t even unpacked yet.

She was playing catch-up, that much was true. Taking on outside work will do that. But she wasn't about to sit around and wait on this Momori Mori while Aiswyda sat in a cramped cell alone. She knew all too well the dark places a mind could go while in the confines of a cold and inhospitable prison cell. She wouldn’t wish the traumatic experience on many, save a certain few. The fact that someone like Aiswyda was currently a prisoner while others that truly deserved to be behind bars wandered free was just more evidence that the world was inherently unfair. As if she needed any more proof.

#ffxiv rp #balmung rp #ffxiv writing #Heartwood plots #Into the Tempest #Aislinn North #Aiswyda Nuthalwyn

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bride-and-bride · 6 years

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BONUS AND COMPLETELY OPTIONAL ROUND: Regal and (spins roulette wheel) Caidenden Caiden, the littlest 30-something-year-old gay tomb robb-- eerrr /archaeologist/ that you ever did see

This ask is forcing me to confront the current bane of my lore existence, what a Lala/Roe child would look like. I think about it constantly. IT HAUNTS ME.

Name: Momori Mori (someone doesn’t care as much about clan names)

Gender: Girl

General Appearance: They are both cancelled out and she is just a rather apple-shaped gal the size of a hyur, but with pointed ears. Brown hair, perpetual baby face, gold eyes, deceptive in her cuteness.

Personality: An adorable girl who could charm an ascian? Completely mischievous, knows what she wants and how to get it, not above manipulation. Both her mothers know EXACTLY what kind of girl she is and they are SO so proud of her. Genuinely really sweet when she’s not being tricky, so it’s almost impossible to tell the difference....

Special Talents: Has the echo, does not use it responsibly.

Who they like better: Regal cooks better and she thinks ancient tombs are SO LAME, mom.

Who they take after more: I have no idea help me, otter

Personal Headcanon: I’m still debating whether or not I’m going for the best option for roe/lala please help

#kid meme #THIS IS WILD #alacritious fancy

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scholar-thief · 2 years

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Execution

An OFFICIAL (an uppity dunesfolk lady in her forties, wearing an ankle-length robe) steps out from a path on the left. She is followed by an EXECUTIONER (a burly dunesfolk man with a serious frown set on his face), several GUARDS, and finally, MOMORI (a dazed dunesfolk woman in her thirties, red hair tipped with white).

The OFFICIAL pauses for a second to take in a deep breath. Then she presses onwards, stepping out onto a sandstone stage where a chopping block has been arranged. Beneath the stage, a sizable CROWD looks on, waiting for justice like starved hyenas. The OFFICIAL, EXECUTIONER, GUARDS, and MOMORI take their place on the stage.

OFFICIAL Rejoice, for today we gather to witness an end to a great threat to Ul’dah. Our precious and ever bountiful Jewel of the Desert.

The OFFICIAL steps back, allowing the GUARDS to push MOMORI forward by the shoulder. She stumbles like a zombie, eyes clouded.

OFFICIAL We gather to witness the rightful execution of Momori Mori, the last standing member of the Silver Scholars. This organization has been brought to light as a gang of terrorists, plotting the downfall of our beloved city state for over a hundred years.

A member of the CROWD boos, and it triggers a chain reaction. A droning and terrible sound rises from the masses. Someone tosses a rock at the stage, prompting the GUARDS into action. Through their efforts, a tense peace is reclaimed.

OFFICIAL Do not fret, my good people! Justice will be served today, after the proper proceedings. We must recognize the extent of this criminal’s deeds, such that we may learn from this tale and inspire fear in the hearts of evildoers!

The OFFICIAL whips out her arm and straightens a sleeve. With poise, she pulls a scroll out of a fold of her robe and unravels it. The roll hits the ground and tumbles off the stage, leaving behind a long line of paper that starts at the OFFICIAL’s hands and ends in a puddle of muddy water. The OFFICIAL clears her throat.

OFFICIAL Ordered by severity, we start at the top. For orchestrating a plot disguised as a public works project, that would have set a powerful elemental golem loose in the city. A plot that would have razed Ul’dah to the ground and built a new “paradise” atop our ruins.

CROWD ONLOOKER A Seven hells...

OFFICIAL For coordinating and actively playing a role in the deaths of countless esteemed officials, philanthropists, businessmen, and other peoples of power for over a decade. Dodosayu Cocosayu, former executive officer of the Oasis Trust. Nanachace Qaqachace, former Captain of the Brass Blades of the Violet. Pupuga Puga, former reporter for the Mythril Eye. Osasa Osa, former heir to the Sage Branch Traders.

CROWD ONLOOKER B She poisoned my husband!

CROWD ONLOOKER C Think that’s bad? She ruined my business and then had me shoveling shit for a living! Whispered in the ears of my customers until none would even come close!

OFFICIAL Bubujo Bujo, former priest of the Arrzaneth Ossuary. Ealric Proctor, former liaison of the East Aldenard Trading Company. Botilda Lush, former coordinator of the Sultanate non-profit for Ala Mhigan resettlement.

CROWD ONLOOKER D She stole my keepsake! Said she’d repair it, but now I know...the amulet I have isn’t the one my late mother gave me! A fake!

CROWD ONLOOKER E What’s thievery compared to murder? She killed my father. Death won’t be enough for all she’s done...Justice! I demand justice!

The CROWD is becoming riled up again. One particularly brave stranger attempts to climb the stage. It takes twice the amount of effort from last time for the GUARDS to reestablish order.

GUARD (To the OFFICIAL) Perhaps we should summarize the rest.

OFFICIAL (Shaken) A-ah. Yes. So, brushing pass murder, Momori Mori is also guilty for the following crimes. Theft, assault and battery, fraud, bribery, blackmail...ahem. Counterfeiting, trafficking, extortion, forgery, money laundering, interfering with the due process of law, use of forbidden magicks, er...

The OFFICIAL has been reading through the list as quickly as she can, pulling it up until the tail end flies out of her hands. The long sheet of paper settles in a pile by her feet.

OFFICIAL Much of which was done through the legal front of a non-profit. For all these crimes and then some...If you would.

A GUARD pushes MOMORI against the chopping block, her cheek pressed against its surface, her neck exposed. The skin that peeks out from underneath her bandages is marred with swooping lines, a distinct eye motif formed over and over on her limbs like oversized fingerprints. Her hair spreads across her face in a tangle of knots, bright red strands fading to white. Even now, she stares forward with dim eyes.

OFFICIAL No gift of gold could ever remove the stain upon your soul. May Thal bar you from entering the afterlife for your sins.

The EXECUTIONER raises his ax. It hangs in the air for a swollen second, then slams down against the chopping block. A hush falls over the CROWD.

OFFICIAL Praise the Twelve.

MOMORI is dead.

Her body and head are taken away separately.

#ff14 rp #Momori Mori #one last act before curtain call

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scholar-thief · 2 years

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Updated reference + class change! (Ninja/reaper hybrid)

#Momori Mori #art #lalafell #she's just sitting in jail rn lol #she’ll still wear her old outfit sometimes #because I love it too much to let go #but here!! from black to white #looks misleadingly serene

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scholar-thief · 2 years

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Cat and Mouse

Momori wakes up to darkness. It's the middle of the night, and slowly, a muted realization falls onto her. The Silver Scholars, ARTIFEX, her father - they’re all gone. There’s nothing left but the empty ache of failure and the even more real pain radiating from her wounds. She channeled far too much of the Ashwoken’s power despite knowing the consequences...or, perhaps, she had done just so, in the hopes of joining him?

Despite all her conviction, despite her toughness, Momori couldn’t do it. She couldn’t kill her father. Instead, she had dragged her feet and stalled. At every opportunity, she convinced herself to wait - just another moment, in case the Helm hadn’t finished its work! But seconds turned into minutes until finally, without a doubt in the world, it was too late.

One last great failure to cap off a string of mistakes. Now, she’s recuperating in the clinic of the company she tried to kill. Funny how fate works sometimes. Momori tries to move her body and finds it tight with toxins, skin peeking black from underneath bandages. She’s watched enough of her peers fall victim to this to know what happens next. Death would come eventually.

...Though she’s surprised that she’s still hanging on. Maybe something is different this time.

Her thoughts are interrupted by the soft sound of someone trying their damndest to enter the clinic and sneak over to her cot. But she’s awake and aware of their presence, waiting and watching their shadow linger on the other side of the curtain partition. Momori wonders if she should play dumb or say hello.

“Hello,” she says without a second thought.

The shadow noticeably jolts, shoulders jumping to meet their ears. Whoever waits on the other side clearly knows that they’ve been discovered, and yet they continue to fidget, consumed with anxiety. Momori hums to herself and guesses who it is.

“Florus, I see you,” she points out. But even that’s not enough to lure the man from his ‘hiding spot.’ So Momori begins to make a ‘pspspsps’ sound, as if he were some kind of animal. His outline stiffens, and she laughs lightly at the reaction. “Come on out, little marmot. I won’t hurt you.”

It has its intended effect. Florus angrily pulls back the curtain and stomps over to her before remembering, oh right, he’s trying to be sneaky. He stands at her bedside for a minute, during which Momori briefly considers falling back asleep. She’s very tired and, even now, has no patience for inefficiency. But finally, he says what he’s come to say in a harsh whisper.

“You should be fucking dead.”

“By all rights,” she agrees.

“Why did they spare you?”

“Same reason that they keep you around, little marmot,” she yawns.

Her lax attitude sets Florus off. He raises a trembling hand, looks at his palm, then glances back to Momori. She smiles slightly.

“And you would finish the job while I’m weak?” She asks him. “Smart boy. It’s what I would do.”

After some hesitation, he leans over and laces his fingers around her neck. Now, she can feel his heartbeat pounding through his grip, breath hot against her cheek. There’s a wild look in his eyes, frantic and desperate and determined. She doesn’t blink. She doesn’t want to miss a second of this.

“Go ahead. Squeeze,” Momori reminds him. And he does, for a moment, but there’s a limit to how hard he grabs. She glances up at him, equal parts amused and annoyed. “I can’t hurt you now. Why are you scared?”

“I don’t know what you’re fucking talking about,” he murmurs. But when his voice betrays him, Momori begins to study the Garlean’s face in earnest. He’s still prey, she thinks. He’s never killed someone before with his own hands. How hilariously privileged. How dreadfully sheltered.

“Fear is a good look on you, Florus. But I wonder, what kind of delicious expression would you make with a knife twisted in your gut?” She whispers into his ear. He hears a perverse smile in her words. “Notch by notch, ilm by ilm, you’ll feel your fibers snap. Then you’ll know that we are nothing but blood and bones.”

His grip wavers, and in that moment, Momori summons all her strength to lurch forward in her bed. The sudden motion sends him scampering back, eyes wide in terror. With that, Momori laughs. She laughs until she falls back into her pillow with a satisfied sigh. Florus eventually catches his breath and takes a shaky seat at the far corner of her bed, quiet. His silence speaks volumes.

“It’s been fun, hasn’t it? Our little game of cat and mouse,” Momori reminisces to the ceiling, and when Florus doesn’t respond, she continues. “Though I suppose, in the end, we both lost. We both lost, and we both changed. How funny is that?”

“You’re a goddamn sociopath....You’ve killed countless people, and you call it a game? Are you serious?” He quakes, voice beginning to rise. “You can’t do this. You can’t use people like pawns.”

Momori looks down at Florus. He glances back at her nervously.

“It’s been fun. We should play again sometime,” she replies. Florus’s breath hitches at the suggestion as he’s stunned into a silent horror. But now alone and without the Scholars, Momori knows that she has to play her hand carefully. Better to let others do the work for her.

“...Lucky for you, I’ll give you a head start. I want to take it easy for a while. Go soul searching, see the world, taste new flavors. Whatever it is normal people do,” she sleepily trails off, eyes fluttering back shut. “Goodnight, little marmot. When the time comes, you’ll know.”

Momori feigns sleep for several minutes, and during that time, Florus remains as still as a statue. He barely moves, barely even breathes. Finally, after letting out a strained breath, he gets up and stumbles away. Momori feels the edge of her mouth perk up. Heartwood would keep him safe until then. For now, she sleeps.

#ff14 rp #Momori Mori #Florus Jen Celsus #so funny story about this story but #I shared it with some college friends #and like a week later #got back some EXTREMELY SUS FANART #I WAS LIKE #YEAH THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED BUT SDFKJDSLFJS #THANKS???? I was so shook #grateful but stunned and it made me laugh so hard

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scholar-thief · 2 years

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Reflecting on Momori’s second and final death

It’s pretty weird to kill a character, and probably even weirder to do it to the same character twice. But as I wrote more than a year ago, Momori’s motivations and skills make her a very difficult character to “save.” Although I’ve only played DA:O, I’m tangentially aware of Solas, and...in some respects, she’s like him. Unbending to the end, with little victories that show she’s not this heartless monster and yet - in order to actually win her over, you’d have to go so far.

I try to realistically consider the circumstances surrounding my characters and often, that leads me to pushing them into incredibly difficult situations. For Momori, think of her as “extra hard mode.” She was raised as an assassin for a cult. Specifically, she was raised as the leader’s right hand and eventual executioner, which is all kinds of messed up given how attached to him she was after her mentor’s death. That sort of conditioning does not simply go away. It is embedded as a part of her! And being shown some kindness WILL sway her, but it will not sway her from what’s become her lifelong obsession - serving the Ashwoken.

This particular end is FIRMLY my fault! Plenty others offered her alternatives, and I’m extremely thankful that a character like this was shown empathy despite everything she did. She IS unhinged, cruel, and violent, but these stem from her upbringing. I am always hoping players choose kindness, that “evil” is not so clear cut, and that true bravery is offering others the chance to try again. Yet that doesn’t mean Momori can be excused. She has killed countless, put Ul’dah at risk, never had the time to leave the Silver Scholars and thus, is still entrenched in their thinking. Given what she had at hand ( a shortcut to gain power and cut away old burdens, at the cost of...her own agency. And if she doesn’t take the shortcut, she dies a slow death and doesn’t accomplish her goals), combined with her intense personality, it was pretty clear to me what she’d choose.

In the DISTORTION campaign, there was a vote to determine sides, between Momori and Florus. I think that even if Momori was chosen, that would’ve only extended her runtime for a while longer, which could’ve led to a different end, but only maybe! Buying her time just means more opportunities for growth, but that’s pitted against my own relentless need to run campaigns and tie things into existing characters. Characters that have villainous and selfish tendencies.

But killing characters is a selfish thing to do because others get invested. Old conversations, relationships - where does that all go? Do you start over? All I can do is apologize, and say that Momori’s influence (like Aiswyda’s) is not something that will disappear. It will continue to impact the narratives that I write. Hopefully one day when I retire a character, they’ll ACTUALLY get a happy ending, but I’ve got a bad track record so far hahahaha

I’m so sorry. I’m just insane. OTL

Thank you for rping with this dry-as-hell murder lalafell. I hope you had fun, because I had a lot of fun writing for her!

#Momori Mori #art #OOC talk #Goodnight dear Momori #.......; _ ;#it always feels empty and sad to retire a character because you know you can't inhabit their voice again #but I also can only hold so many characters in my head #Why don't you put them on standby instead of KILLING THEM every time??#Because I have to justify the standby #and MOMORI WAS IN JAIL FOR TERRIBLE CRIMES #Why would they keep someone who explicitly tried to level Ul'dah and shows 0 remorse in jail indefinitely???#The 'good' news is that Cravs is def on the 'gets a good ending' path and Munchix just gets one by default #uhhh yeah I guess Flo is the one at risk but hey!!! 2/3!!!

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