[FIC] [FFXII OG] Reconstruction (Ashe, PG) // for shinebunny

[gunshou]

Title: Reconstruction
For: shinebunny
Medium: fanfic
Request: FFXII, Ashe, post-game. Can have hints of her with Rasler, Vaan, Balthier, Vossler, Basch... (whatever the maker wants), but most of all I just want to see her being queenly. Preferably musing on her queenliness.
Fandom: FFXII OG
Characters/Pairings: Ashe (/Balthier), Basch, Penelo
Rating/Warnings

Comments

[shinebunny]

This is exactly what I wanted! Thank you! <3 If you hadn't pointed out the end, I don't think I would have noticed anything strange at all. Besides, I think it suited the fic fine. It's not as if this called for a super-concrete ending, since it was a more a look at Ashe and Dalmasca than anything else.

I love that Basch, Penelo, and Balthier all made appearances here (with mentions of Larsa and Fran). I especially liked the bit with Penelo. It's so like Ashe to do the righteous thing, to be so stubborn. And I love the history excerpts - I'm always interested in Ivalice's history, especially when fanfiction supplies the fun details.

[gunshou]

Fantastic! I'm glad you like it; I was really worried.

[owlmoose]

This is a lovely story. I enjoy the concept that Ashe takes awhile to settle into being queen; it totally makes sense to me that she would have to learn how to be a ruler rather than a resistance leader. The farewell with Basch was touching, and I like where and how you invoke Vossler. The little bit with Ashe and Balthier at the end is also fabulous. Thanks so much for sharing this!

[gunshou]

Thank you so much! I figured with 9 brothers, she really wouldn't have been trained to rule, and doesn't have quite the leadership experience she thinks she does. Thanks again for reading and commenting. :D

[gabranth]

I think you give yourself too little credit - the language of this fic alone has me impressed. I love the "meandering" of this story, because life doesn't necessarily have a plotline. It feels honest, and even though you told me you don't get Ashe, I think you nailed her. I loved Basch in here, despite his brief visit, but then I would expect you to write Basch well. And Balthier... well, he's always a treat for me xD.

Also. Your play? I was laughing so hard - this needs to be real now. I was reading Bataro as Balthier, ngl. His voice sounded good with it xD (And you know I'd take him up on his ~smooth ride~)

[gunshou]

MY MODERNISM COURSE, LET ME SHOW YOU IT.

Seriously, I think my job has rendered me incapable of writing a clearly defined, traditional plot structure.

You know I can't stand Ashe, so I wanted to portray her with all the prickliness and temper that bugs me, and yet not make her a screaming shrew. Basch, well, I think I'm also incapable of writing a story without him in it, since he occupies so much of my headspace. I'm hoping he'll move over a little and let his brother in, and maybe I can write more Gabranth. I'm glad I hit Balthier's notes correctly; my inability to get into his head is the reason I picked this prompt of the three to begin with.

LOL, the play is totally the product of some bad romance writer overhearing a drunken Balthier boasting in a pub about the night he stole the Princess away from Bhujerba. IDK how Balthier managed to keep such innuendos out of their original dialogue, frankly. If I'd been writing the game script, I would totally have gone there, forget the rating system. :D

Balthier's powerful ship

Fic

[_smallsteps]

A very enjoyable and well-written story, even for someone who knows little about the game.

Re: Fic

[gunshou]

Aw, thank you! Critique from you warms my soul. :D

As you know, get me started on explaining FFXII and I can easily go on for hours. Starbucks isn't open late enough.

[pearlrose86]

Fascinating!

I love the little history-book blubs at the beginning of the story, and the excerpt from the play had me snickering. :)

The writing is lovely, and it gives me a new respect for Ashe in general. I find her character such a mix of contradictions. It makes her difficult to like sometimes, but wholly interesting and multi-faceted.

It's witty and detailed and such a rich story, so thank you so much for sharing it! It's wonderfully thoughtful and your delicate use of language makes me feel like I'm watching a cutscene from the game or something. I feel like I'm watching--not reading--because it's so detailed and amazing.

[gunshou]

Thank you so much! The history parts were great fun to write; I enjoy meta far more than I ever expect to.

Ashe is difficult for me to like, so I'm glad I was able to make her sympathetic. And thank you for the compliments; I enjoy language, and keep trying to make it work hard for me. Thanks so much for reading and commenting! :D

[pearlrose86]

I love meta so much. I wish people would do more of it--it just fascinates me.

I want to like Ashe, I really do, but she just makes it so difficult sometimes.

Ah, but thank you for writing. It was a pleasure to read, and your handle on language is wonderful.