(no subject)
So, in the interest of finishing the Meme of Fives, I have cheated somewhat! I know that some people do this meme as a list rather than an actual fic. So I’ve compromised for the remaining “Five Things” challenges I have here. Some are embellished lists; some are short-fic ficlet drabble-y things. ENJOY. FINALLY. XD
- - -
rosencrantz
5 times Penelo tried to tell her feelings to Vaan and the 1 time he actually understood.
The first time, they were too young, and Penelo couldn’t stop referencing her brothers every time she tried to explain it to him. Vaan was too thick-headed and distraught to understand that she wasn’t comparing him to her brothers - she was including him as one of them.
The second time, the words caught in her throat because she hadn’t quite realized what she was about to say - and she let him walk off towards that stupid treasure in that stupid castle all by himself.
The third time, she was all alone and clutching another man’s kerchief - damn you, Balthier - but the window she spoke to made a decent substitute.
The fourth time they were somewhere in the belly of the Strahl, and Vaan was looking around himself in wide-eyed, greedy wonder, and she’d said, “Maybe someday we’ll have an airship of our own,” without realizing what the we might imply. She’d given him a hard look afterwards, but he’d continued drooling over the wires, completely oblivious. So she didn’t continue.
The fifth time, it was pitch-dark in the middle of the night on some mountain whose name she could barely pronounce, with her staff glowing beside her bedroll for protection, and she’d said simply: “Vaan, I’m scared of losing you.” Luckily for her, Vaan was asleep.
-
It wasn’t until her feet touched the floor in Migelo’s, when they opened that door and her senses were assaulted by the familiarity of scent and sound and safety, that Penelo realized she didn’t really need to tell Vaan anything. He picked her up and swung her in a circle, hooting, and she said simply, “We’re home,” and kissed him.
-
(Note! I almost wrote the “humor version” in which Penelo’s “feelings” are actually “Vaan, you are a retard”.)
- - -
fanaticalone
FFIX, Five things that Amarant never regretted, and one thing that he does.
He didn’t really regret any of the shit people told him he should’ve, Amarant mused at the fire crackling merrily across from him. He didn’t really regret all the bad names he’d called his ma, even the really really bad ones, and he didn’t even regret it once she’d croaked. She’d been a right old bitch - hell, she’d taught him all the names anyway, and although once or twice Zidane said he should feel bad about it - well, he didn’t.
And he really didn’t regret teaching the brat all those really naughty words, either, although that Hilda had sworn he’d regret it if Eiko kept coming up with new and inventive ways to refer to her new tutors. Amarant didn’t really see how that was his fault. And he didn’t feel bad about it, either - he was actually kinda proud.
And he didn’t really regret any of the bigger stuff, either. He never regretted taking claws as his weapon, not even in the thick of battle when he was right up in the face of something that would’ve made Vivi wet his pants. He didn’t regret any of his kills, because that was just stupid and mushy. How could you regret something that made you what you are? It was ridiculous.
And he definitely, definitely didn’t regret what he’d just done, even if his face and Freya’s face had never really meant to fit together in that particular way.
So maybe he didn’t believe in regret, Amarant thought as he looked into the fire. If that was the case, what the hell was this feeling in his stomach, telling him he shouldn’t have left?
-
(Note: I just can’t avoid that ship.)
- - -
xahra99
Five times the whole FF10 cast nearly died because they were wearing totally unsuitable clothing for the prevailing weather conditions.
(1) Bikanel Desert caught them off-guard. Kimahri almost died from heatstroke and fever; Rikku threatened to shave him with Auron’s sword, and Auron was too dehydrated himself to even protest. Lulu burnt so badly she got sun poisoning. The resulting blisters and peeling almost killed Wakka and Tidus - although they’d never have admitted to looking.
(2) They tried to teach Lulu to swim, once, because Tidus thought it might have been helpful to have her magic underwater. The weight of her belts sunk her almost at once, and a frantic Yuna, furious from having to revive her guardian, threatened to sink them all. (Lulu, once awake again, promptly knocked Tidus out with a lightning spell.)
(3) The ice in Macalania Temple was so slippery it almost broke Sir Auron’s neck when he fell. The resulting laughter that no-one could hold back almost killed the rest of them.
(4) Yuna tripped on her skirt. Lulu tripped on her belts. Rikku got a spider up her shorts. The three women simultaneously swore that if they ever had to set a single foot into Kilika Jungle again, they’d be wearing Al Bhed haz-mat suits.
(5) Only one day into Mount Gagazet, the entire party turned around. Rikku returned with trousers and a parka, as did Yuna. Tidus and Wakka somehow found the other halves of their shirts/pants. Lulu only needed a fur stole, as she was already wearing flannel pajamas under her skirt-o’-belts. Sir Auron looked exactly the same, and it was only Rikku’s sharp eyes that picked out the extra four bottles of “warming sake” hanging beneath his cloak.
Kimahri shook his head, and led the stupid humans back up the mountain, thanking his warm fur coat and burying the memories of every single party member cuddling him for warmth. Especially Auron.
(Note: this one was probably the most fun. I might write actual fic about it.)
- - -
whoisus
FFXII - Five Times Ondore Lied and One Time He Didn't
He’d written for the town crier: “Princess Ashelia, in her grief, has taken her own life.”
He’d said to the gathered crowd: “Basch fon Ronsenburg has been executed for his crimes against the Empire and Dalmasca.”
He’d told Vayne: “They are just rumors. I do not support any resistance - I am your faithful subject.”
He’d told Larsa: “Your brother is a good man. Do not fear for him.”
He said to Ashe: “No, there is nothing I can do. I cannot help you.”
In the end, he tore the page from his book that read “Al-Cid is, despite all rumours, certainly not gay.” He’d done enough lying, these years.
(Note: I hope you have a sense of humour.)
- - -
bottle-of-shine
Five Times Quistis Triumphed Over Her Stressful Job, Seifer Almasy and Other Insurmountable Odds
(01)
“No.”
“Quistis, that’s an order.”
“I’ll quit, then.”
Squall sighs. “I’ll make you Head Instructor. You’ll get… a better office. And… a badge.”
A pause. “Kitchen privileges 24/7?” she asks cautiously.
“Whatever it takes.”
“Access to the computer network from my office?” The Trepies are so going down.
“Yes, Quistis.” Squall’s teeth seem to be grinding.
She nods, triumphantly, because she’s won again. “Alright. I’ll fetch him.”
(02)
Her whip wraps around his gunblade, and he’s distracted for a single moment too long, because Quistis plants the heel of her palm directly in his face, right on top of his scar. The Sleep spell follows shortly after.
Seifer crumples to the ground. Quistis lets out a breath she wasn’t aware of breathing in.
(03)
“There is no way.”
“Why not?” She digs her metaphorical heels in. “There’s no reason not to.”
“He won’t do it,” Squall says. “He’ll make us look like idiots. Garden, that is.”
“I’ll make him do it,” she says, somewhat surprised at her own vehemence.
Squall pauses. Thinks. Nods.
“You probably will.”
She’s simultaneously surprised, vindicated, and a little bit nervous.
(04)
It’s oh-five-hundred hours, and her alarm will actually be going off in forty-five minutes, but here she is, in her dorm room, pointing out the intricacies of the SeeD Manual.
She turns around, and Seifer has fallen asleep on her couch.
Quistis smirks. Finally. At least this way he’ll get sleep before the exam.
(05)
Seifer looks up at her, and even the smirk can’t completely hide the astonishment on his face - when did she learn to read him so well? - at the mark on his paper.
Quistis simply nods, smugly. Congratulations. Told you you’d pass.
-
(Notes: why am I not surprised yours turned out longest?)
You'll notice that they start out serious, and then move very quickly into absolute ridiculousness. I CAN HAS ATTENTION SPAN?
ff_press, you don't have to list these tonight unless you are really that bored. ♥
- - -
rosencrantz
5 times Penelo tried to tell her feelings to Vaan and the 1 time he actually understood.
The first time, they were too young, and Penelo couldn’t stop referencing her brothers every time she tried to explain it to him. Vaan was too thick-headed and distraught to understand that she wasn’t comparing him to her brothers - she was including him as one of them.
The second time, the words caught in her throat because she hadn’t quite realized what she was about to say - and she let him walk off towards that stupid treasure in that stupid castle all by himself.
The third time, she was all alone and clutching another man’s kerchief - damn you, Balthier - but the window she spoke to made a decent substitute.
The fourth time they were somewhere in the belly of the Strahl, and Vaan was looking around himself in wide-eyed, greedy wonder, and she’d said, “Maybe someday we’ll have an airship of our own,” without realizing what the we might imply. She’d given him a hard look afterwards, but he’d continued drooling over the wires, completely oblivious. So she didn’t continue.
The fifth time, it was pitch-dark in the middle of the night on some mountain whose name she could barely pronounce, with her staff glowing beside her bedroll for protection, and she’d said simply: “Vaan, I’m scared of losing you.” Luckily for her, Vaan was asleep.
-
It wasn’t until her feet touched the floor in Migelo’s, when they opened that door and her senses were assaulted by the familiarity of scent and sound and safety, that Penelo realized she didn’t really need to tell Vaan anything. He picked her up and swung her in a circle, hooting, and she said simply, “We’re home,” and kissed him.
-
(Note! I almost wrote the “humor version” in which Penelo’s “feelings” are actually “Vaan, you are a retard”.)
- - -
fanaticalone
FFIX, Five things that Amarant never regretted, and one thing that he does.
He didn’t really regret any of the shit people told him he should’ve, Amarant mused at the fire crackling merrily across from him. He didn’t really regret all the bad names he’d called his ma, even the really really bad ones, and he didn’t even regret it once she’d croaked. She’d been a right old bitch - hell, she’d taught him all the names anyway, and although once or twice Zidane said he should feel bad about it - well, he didn’t.
And he really didn’t regret teaching the brat all those really naughty words, either, although that Hilda had sworn he’d regret it if Eiko kept coming up with new and inventive ways to refer to her new tutors. Amarant didn’t really see how that was his fault. And he didn’t feel bad about it, either - he was actually kinda proud.
And he didn’t really regret any of the bigger stuff, either. He never regretted taking claws as his weapon, not even in the thick of battle when he was right up in the face of something that would’ve made Vivi wet his pants. He didn’t regret any of his kills, because that was just stupid and mushy. How could you regret something that made you what you are? It was ridiculous.
And he definitely, definitely didn’t regret what he’d just done, even if his face and Freya’s face had never really meant to fit together in that particular way.
So maybe he didn’t believe in regret, Amarant thought as he looked into the fire. If that was the case, what the hell was this feeling in his stomach, telling him he shouldn’t have left?
-
(Note: I just can’t avoid that ship.)
- - -
xahra99
Five times the whole FF10 cast nearly died because they were wearing totally unsuitable clothing for the prevailing weather conditions.
(1) Bikanel Desert caught them off-guard. Kimahri almost died from heatstroke and fever; Rikku threatened to shave him with Auron’s sword, and Auron was too dehydrated himself to even protest. Lulu burnt so badly she got sun poisoning. The resulting blisters and peeling almost killed Wakka and Tidus - although they’d never have admitted to looking.
(2) They tried to teach Lulu to swim, once, because Tidus thought it might have been helpful to have her magic underwater. The weight of her belts sunk her almost at once, and a frantic Yuna, furious from having to revive her guardian, threatened to sink them all. (Lulu, once awake again, promptly knocked Tidus out with a lightning spell.)
(3) The ice in Macalania Temple was so slippery it almost broke Sir Auron’s neck when he fell. The resulting laughter that no-one could hold back almost killed the rest of them.
(4) Yuna tripped on her skirt. Lulu tripped on her belts. Rikku got a spider up her shorts. The three women simultaneously swore that if they ever had to set a single foot into Kilika Jungle again, they’d be wearing Al Bhed haz-mat suits.
(5) Only one day into Mount Gagazet, the entire party turned around. Rikku returned with trousers and a parka, as did Yuna. Tidus and Wakka somehow found the other halves of their shirts/pants. Lulu only needed a fur stole, as she was already wearing flannel pajamas under her skirt-o’-belts. Sir Auron looked exactly the same, and it was only Rikku’s sharp eyes that picked out the extra four bottles of “warming sake” hanging beneath his cloak.
Kimahri shook his head, and led the stupid humans back up the mountain, thanking his warm fur coat and burying the memories of every single party member cuddling him for warmth. Especially Auron.
(Note: this one was probably the most fun. I might write actual fic about it.)
- - -
whoisus
FFXII - Five Times Ondore Lied and One Time He Didn't
He’d written for the town crier: “Princess Ashelia, in her grief, has taken her own life.”
He’d said to the gathered crowd: “Basch fon Ronsenburg has been executed for his crimes against the Empire and Dalmasca.”
He’d told Vayne: “They are just rumors. I do not support any resistance - I am your faithful subject.”
He’d told Larsa: “Your brother is a good man. Do not fear for him.”
He said to Ashe: “No, there is nothing I can do. I cannot help you.”
In the end, he tore the page from his book that read “Al-Cid is, despite all rumours, certainly not gay.” He’d done enough lying, these years.
(Note: I hope you have a sense of humour.)
- - -
bottle-of-shine
Five Times Quistis Triumphed Over Her Stressful Job, Seifer Almasy and Other Insurmountable Odds
(01)
“No.”
“Quistis, that’s an order.”
“I’ll quit, then.”
Squall sighs. “I’ll make you Head Instructor. You’ll get… a better office. And… a badge.”
A pause. “Kitchen privileges 24/7?” she asks cautiously.
“Whatever it takes.”
“Access to the computer network from my office?” The Trepies are so going down.
“Yes, Quistis.” Squall’s teeth seem to be grinding.
She nods, triumphantly, because she’s won again. “Alright. I’ll fetch him.”
(02)
Her whip wraps around his gunblade, and he’s distracted for a single moment too long, because Quistis plants the heel of her palm directly in his face, right on top of his scar. The Sleep spell follows shortly after.
Seifer crumples to the ground. Quistis lets out a breath she wasn’t aware of breathing in.
(03)
“There is no way.”
“Why not?” She digs her metaphorical heels in. “There’s no reason not to.”
“He won’t do it,” Squall says. “He’ll make us look like idiots. Garden, that is.”
“I’ll make him do it,” she says, somewhat surprised at her own vehemence.
Squall pauses. Thinks. Nods.
“You probably will.”
She’s simultaneously surprised, vindicated, and a little bit nervous.
(04)
It’s oh-five-hundred hours, and her alarm will actually be going off in forty-five minutes, but here she is, in her dorm room, pointing out the intricacies of the SeeD Manual.
She turns around, and Seifer has fallen asleep on her couch.
Quistis smirks. Finally. At least this way he’ll get sleep before the exam.
(05)
Seifer looks up at her, and even the smirk can’t completely hide the astonishment on his face - when did she learn to read him so well? - at the mark on his paper.
Quistis simply nods, smugly. Congratulations. Told you you’d pass.
-
(Notes: why am I not surprised yours turned out longest?)
You'll notice that they start out serious, and then move very quickly into absolute ridiculousness. I CAN HAS ATTENTION SPAN?
ff_press, you don't have to list these tonight unless you are really that bored. ♥