[Final Fantasy IV] Every Light Casts A Shadow, Chapter Two: Homecoming

[athyn]

Pairings/Characters: Kain Highwind, plus cast
Rating: R (overall)
Warnings: Spoilers. Violence and language. Occasional sexual content.
Notes: This fic belongs to the Lucis Ante Terminum arc. Like that arc, it was conceived prior to FF4: The After and may contradict additional canon presented in that game. I make no apologies for this.

Comments

[ovo_lexa]

\o/

I think you have a typo: The ladies-in-waiting trailed behimd them like a flock of confused birds. Either that, or behimd is an archaic word that is unknown to me.

AHEM! Speaking of, the bits of archaic narration and awesome descriptions and such make me feel right at home. I know I'm probably alone in this, but given the styles I cut my teeth on, that kind of thing makes it easier to read.

Hooray, Cid! Also, Poor Kain. Also, I squee at all the additions to the cast, large bits and small bits, that give so much more life to the world. EEE!

Rosa needs to have a frank and understanding chat with Cecil regarding the topics of Kain and discomfort. Maybe. If she has the time, with all the feeding and changing she's gonna be stuck with arranging with a nurse. Near the end, I was getting the sinking feeling that she might keel off during childbirth, but she did not. Yay!

...um... my arms are stuck like this. \o/

[lassarina]

Ahhhhhh, curses, that one slipped by me. Woe. *attacks typo with a machete*

♥ I love archaic styles. (Have you read Kushiel's Legacy? It's all in that style. Purrrr.)

:D Rosa does need to have such a chat. She probably will not have time between being a queen and being a mom, though.

*does victory dance* I am so glad you liked it :D

I use Kain icon again :o

[noctaval]

HOORAY <3 It's wonderful.

I especially love your descriptions of the locations, the town and townspeople seem gritty and real. And poor Kain trying to get used to the crush of humanity again! <3

The awkward and tense scenes with the servants and noblemen are really cool too. (The natives are restless, hmm?) And the archaic dialogue! Have you ever read any of Melanie Rawn's books? It reminds me of her in a way, with all the intrigue.

And several mentions of Valvalicia, I see. Perhaps she'll make an appearance. >:3

I'm so happy~ I'll stop bugging you now.

Btw...I know I shouldn't because I'm behind on stuff (loooool) but is there anything from Every Light Casts A Shadow you'd want to see art of? I've been wanting to draw Kain lately but haven't come up with anything I felt like finishing. :o

Re: I use Kain icon again :o

[lassarina]

O...oh, man. Art. ♥ Actually the thing I think I'd want to see is the door, in Mysidia, from chapter 1. That would be super fantastic. Honestly, anything would make me squeal at you though XD Or anything of Kain with a motif of light and shadow. Then I could use it for cover art. :D

The natives are definitely restless, and not just in Baron. But I'm getting ahead of myself. :D

I love Melanie Rawn OMG. You just paid me a huge compliment. ♥ ♥ ♥

I'm...almost in a place where future chapters should be coming faster; my betas and I agreed that I should probably finish at least the rough draft before we do a whole lot more picking apart, just so we can see how everything ends up, but on the plus side it's all downhill from here because the fricking conclave is done. :D

Re: I use Kain icon again :o

[noctaval]

X3 I actually...haha...I started sketching that door when I read that scene the first time because I liked the image so much. I shall do it!

I had an idea for Kain with light&shadow, not sure if it will be what you were thinking of, but that's probably gonna get done first. After I finish my Parasite Eve fanart. And my gargoyle transformation pic. And the icon challenge for the community I mod. *facepalm* Bad me.

*looks for plots everywhere*

Hurray! I'm glad, not everyone has heard of her, which is a damn shame. I love her courtly intrigue and intricate plot twists! And I'm not just buttering you up, it really does have that feel. :3

Now that I've had a bit of story, I can patiently wait for all the editing and polishing to come. ~<3

Re: I use Kain icon again :o

[lassarina]

♥ I am trying to get faster. It doesn't help when my wrists are killing me though x_x;

[flonnebonne]

This was an excellent read! Quite possibly the best "Kain returns to Baron" story I've read. I love the fact that he inspires so many different reactions from people--awkwardness from Cecil and Rosa, wariness and threats from guards, admiration from some, and, uh, a normal amount of exuberant friendliness from Cid. Also love your descriptions and the slightly archaic vocab you ocasionally use. Can't wait to see where this is going.

[lassarina]

Thank you very much! Part of my goal with this story is to poke at people who might not be quite so happy to see the prodigal son return, so I'm delighted that the differences in reception are coming through =)

Hopefully it will not take me as long to beat Chapter 3 into editable shape as it did for Chapter 2. >_>;