Writing

That Nebulous Thing Called Love (Celes & Terra | 3,912 words | rated G) - Celes encounters a very different Terra in Mobliz than the one she thought she knew. Frustrated by Terra's unwillingness to fight, Celes ponders the reason behind it, and her own interpretation of love, and is eventually moved toward understanding by an innocent gesture in the dead of night.

Butterflies (Relm | 100 words | rated G) - Relm tests the limits of her magic.

As the Moon Chases the Sun (Celes & Terra | 14,091 words | rated T) - Growing up in Terra's shadow, Celes had come to hate her...until she actually met her. Perplexed by Terra's mix of childish naivete and innate power, Celes finds herself drawn closer to her and the warmth she radiates, and through the passage of time and loss of memories, their paths continue to cross.

Famous Red Overcoat (Daryl/Setzer | 900 words | rated T) - It was a simple dalliance, the kind to which neither of them was a stranger. So why does she still haunt his heart, and why does he make her want to give hers away?

Family Portrait (Relm | 2,175 words | rated G) - A year after helping the others defeat Kefka, Relm is frustrated that her paintings can no longer come to life in a world without magic. In a fit of anger, she knocks one of Strago's pictures off the wall, shattering the frame and revealing a painting of a family who looks all too familiar.

Shake the Stars From the Sky (Daryl/Setzer | 7,430 words | rated E) - After leaving a fancy Jidoorian party, Setzer and Daryl can't agree on where to head to next, so they devise a very physical challenge to break the stalemate.

We Are Cinders From a Fire Burning Long Ago (Celes/Terra | 14,255 words | rated M) - Meanwhile, Terra watches Mobliz rebuild and repopulate, and many of the children in her care are adopted out to new families. She knows that this is the ideal outcome for the children, but she can't help but worry: if her love for the children is what kept her in this world, what would happen should the children forget about her? Reunited during one of Celes' missions, Celes and Terra head back to South Figaro, where they both accept mercenary assignments for a living. When Setzer visits them with an offer to act as guides and guards for a group of adventurers scavenging the ruins of Kefka's Tower, Celes and Terra find a remnant of a bygone time that will force them to admit their fears and test their will to push forward.

Shoeshine (Celes/Setzer | 2,209 words | rated E) - After kidnapping "Maria" from the opera, Setzer is eager to claim his prize, and the rest of the party is late.

Time (Laguna | 997 words | rated G) - In a time of crisis, Laguna meets the son he's never known, and comes face-to-face with the ghosts of his past.

Rift (Caraway, Rinoa | 2,991 words | rated G) - As Time Compression begins and the heroes charge to the future to face Ultimecia, Caraway delves into his past.

Affirmation(Squall/Rinoa | 997 words | rated G) - Years later, though the world has changed and their priorities have shifted, their commitment remains, reaffirmed and strengthened as the days pass, through the small moments. Fear doesn't necessitate hiding, and a knight doesn't always need a weapon.

Same Old Song, Just Once More (Rinoa | 6,347 words | rated G) - While watching the group prepare for their concert at Fisherman's Horizon, Rinoa has an unexpected encounter with a song from her past, which calls up old memories and fresh doubts, and prompts her desire to secure the musical scores for herself.

The Girl with Flaming Hair (Adel, Dr. Odine | 755 words | rated G) - A betrayal in her youth drives Adel's thirst for power in her present, and the fire within her is only fueled by the unintended side effects of Dr. Odine's experiments.

Over and Over (Winhill flower shop owner | 1,395 words | rated G) - For nearly twenty years, the owner of the Winhill flower shop has held onto a hope she couldn't really believe. But after seeing a loved one in the eyes of a stranger and sharing her story with a friend, that hope no longer seems so far-fetched.

Possession (Edea | 689 words | rated G) - "I am Edea Kramer. I've been a sorceress since childhood. The power of another is nothing I cannot handle. Nothing has changed. Nothing will."

Bombshell (Irvine, Selphie | 3,900 words | rated G) - When SeeD uncovers an assassination plot while on a mission as security detail, Xu calls upon Irvine to help them out. Irvine's assignment: seduce the suspect to facilitate arrest. His reputation and a SeeD mission on the line, can Irvine live up to his claims of being a "ladies' man?"

The Mission (Nida, Selphie | 2,368 words | rated G) - Normally tasked with piloting Balamb Garden, Nida never thought he'd get the chance to prove himself on a mission. But with the escalation of Selphie's strong-arm recruitment tactics for her Garden Festival committee, Nida is assigned a simple, but terrifying task: stop Selphie Tilmitt.

Mistaken (Rinoa, Squall | 1,923 words | rated G) - [Modern/Mundane AU] An exhausted Rinoa mistakes someone else's car for her own, resulting in minor damage to the vehicle. The car's owner is rightfully dismayed, and greets her with a scowl—and the loveliest blue eyes she's ever seen.

Until I Burn Away (Seifer, Edea, Ultimecia | 23,915 words | rated M) - Having become the Sorceress' Knight, Seifer finds the title difficult to live up to. To demonstrate his loyalty, he makes a promise -- one that will bind him for all time.

Humphrey (Raine & Ellone | 9,123 words | rated G) - Following the murder of Ellone's parents at the hands of Esthar soldiers, Raine takes Ellone into her care. While struggling to understand and help a child too young to completely grasp the meaning of what has happened to her, Raine begins having strange, eerily realistic dreams -- dreams that Ellone claims to share.

Ozone (Zell | 3,268 words | rated G) - From a young age, Zell has been fascinated by lightning, by its spectacle and power. Though the details have faded as he's grown, his fascination remains, and his search for the power to protect his loved ones allies him with the storm itself, bringing back a familiar scent and memories he can't quite recall.

Curious as a Cat (Quistis, OCs | 69,565 words | rated T) - For much of her life, Quistis hasn't been particularly inquisitive. But an unusual sighting on the skyways of Esthar rekindles her curiosity and leads to an encounter that renews her sense of purpose and passion for knowledge, and just might help her find her place in the world. [Part 1 of the Esthar Chronicles series]

Property of Odine Laboratories (Irvine, Quistis | 28,406 words | rated T) - A mix-up at the Esthar shopping mall leaves Irvine in possession of some very unusual ammunition. Though it is clearly marked as belonging to Odine Laboratories and still in trials, Irvine can’t resist trying it out, with very unpleasant consequences -- for himself and everyone around him. [Part 2 of the Esthar Chronicles series]

Special Order (Quistis & Selphie | 52,557 words | rated G) - [Bakery AU] It’s only been two years since Quistis opened Qake, a boutique bakery in Dollet. But with the development of a megaresort nearby, business at the bakery has slowed down considerably, and Quistis’ livelihood is in danger. The arrival of a quirky, energetic heiress in town might just turn things around – if she doesn’t drive Quistis crazy first!

Evening Edition (Quistis, Seifer | 4,307 words | rated G) - [Newsroom AU] Quistis has worked the anchor desk at BalambNine News for five years, and takes her job very seriously. But the arrival of a brash new co-anchor changes the dynamic of the newsroom and pushes her further from the kind of work she aspires to do. She weathers her frustration as best as she can, until international developments offer her a chance to do the job she loves, and reclaim her well-earned position in the process.

Snapshots (Rinoa, Laguna | 2,522 words | rated G) - At least once in every conversation with Rinoa, Laguna brought up Julia. But the Julia he knew was not her mother; Laguna's Julia was nothing more than a snapshot, an idol, a sliver of a whole and vibrant woman.

Where I Belong (Selphie | 9,562 words | rated G) - While studying the history and manufacture of Estharian aircraft, Selphie comes across her own name in an article about a deadly revolt in a mining town, not long after the overthrow of Adel. Shocked, she travels to the town, hoping to piece together clues about her past, and to dig up just one memory of the people she loved so long ago. [Part 3 of the Esthar Chronicles series] [WIP]

Crystal-Clear Snafu (Selphie, Zell | 3,142 words | rated G) When Selphie hears about a new fuel source Esthar is developing, using Energy Crystals, she heads into the still-unstable Trabian Crater for a little excavation of her own.

Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes (Rinoa/Quistis | 1,713 words | rated T) - Rinoa went to Quistis to vent about Squall. She never expected to find her loneliness reflected there, or its gentle, if temporary, relief.

Take You in My Arms and Fly Away with You Tonight (Squall/Rinoa | 2,267 words | rated T) - Squall can't shake the glimpse of future he received in Ultimecia's time, and sees her shadows even in the present. Even around Rinoa, even as Rinoa wants nothing more than to pull him into the light with her, to gain and retain his trust.

Party People (Selphie, Wimbly Donner | 854 words | rated G) - Selphie has just finished hosting Balamb Garden's first-ever Garden Festival. During clean-up, she finally meets her predecessor from the Garden Festival committee, come to congratulate her on her success. He certainly knows how to make an impression.

Civilian (Squall/Rinoa | 1,644 words | rated G) - That first GF opened the floodgates to the magic that runs through Rinoa's body, to the power that's slowly consuming her. Though Squall regrets having given it to her, a civilian with no training and no business using GFs, the decision made perfect sense at the time: Rinoa wanted to fight beside SeeD. It was her choice; what right did he have to object?

Take Me Where the Streetlights Glow (Quistis/Rinoa | 7,959 words | rated E) - Quistis hasn't taken a proper vacation in years. Now, four years after meeting Rinoa and saving the world, she travels with her to Dollet for a week of relaxation and indulgence. And if Quistis hasn't learned how to properly enjoy those things by now, Rinoa is only too happy to help her out.

Roll to Me (Quistis/Rinoa | 3,031 words | rated G) - Rinoa surprises Quistis with a getaway to Deling City for her birthday, intent on showing her the kind of weekend she'd dreamed of having while growing up in Caraway's mansion--hip restaurants, cool clubs, and dancing until dawn. But when they get lost on the way to one of those clubs and end up at a roller disco, instead, Rinoa remembers that it's not the venue that makes an evening memorable, but who you share the evening with.

To Last Voyages and New Experiences (Selphie/Nida | 3,958 words | rated G) - Nida had long accepted the eventuality of the last voyage of Balamb Garden, but he didn't expect to share the final leg of that journey with anyone, much less someone who takes him seriously--as a SeeD, a pilot, and a person.

Flowers and Salt (Julia/Raine | 4,940 words | rated E) - Tired of the noise and stress of the city, Julia escapes to Winhill for the weekend, where she has an unexpected fling with the local pub owner.

Fancy a Dance? (Irvine & Quistis | 2,737 words | rated G) - As part of a bet with Xu, Quistis attends a masquerade ball in Deling City. She's enjoying herself and the anonymity afforded by the concept, until she bumps into one of the last people she'd expect to see there.

Flowers on the Sill (Rinoa & Caraway | 8,311 words | rated G) - Caraway has never been good with words, but if his life has taught him anything, it's that it is a man's actions that determine his character. He can only hope that he was able to teach Rinoa that, as well.

Lemonade (Squall/Ellone | 3,196 words | rated E) - In the hot, stuffy kitchen of a house of tragedy and lost hopes, Ellone and Squall find temporary relief in one another.

Easy Silence (Auron/Lulu | 8,434 words | rated E) - Lulu appreciated Auron's silence. He seemed to know the value of words and, consequently, recognized when they were useless. When an encounter with her past leaves Lulu shaken and disconnected from even herself, she eventually finds comfort in his quiet understanding, and in a largely wordless reconnection with a part of herself she has ignored for too long.

The Next Blank Page (Lulu, Yuna | 1,674 words | rated G) - A year after helping Yuna defeat Yu Yevon, Lulu feels adrift in the world, in her own life. But a late-night conversation with Yuna and a carelessly dropped sphere plant the seeds of a new dream, and the courage to follow it.

As You Wish (Auron/Lulu | 2,971 words | rated E) - Plagued with worries and unable to sleep, Lulu discovers Auron awake as well, and asks him to distract her from her concerns.

Summer Rain (Red/Auden | 2,312 words | rated T) - A rainy-night stroll leads to another juncture in their relationship.

Break (Red/Auden | 663 words | rated G) - She had little need of the Bracket Towers break room for its intended purpose, but she did need the privacy it offered, the quiet, the shelter from his gaze.

Let the Rain Fall (Sybil, Red | 496 words | rated G) - Sybil's gift is less-than-enthusiastically received.

Bodyguard (Sybil, Red, Auden | 498 words | rated G) - Red has usually been forthcoming with Sybil, but a period of relative reticence leaves Sybil feeling left out of her life – a feeling that only intensifies when she meets Red's new bodyguard.

Provocatrice (Sybil, Red | 494 words | rated G) - A "special occasion" turns out to be a special person, and a clear indicator of where Sybil stands in Red's life.

Noise (Auden, Red, OCs | 3,697 words | rated T) - The cheers and applause from Red's audience were deafening, drowning out all other sounds around Auden, and coaxing back a memory from his fighting days that he would rather forget.

Waking Up in the Country (Farrah | 100 words | rated G) - In her capacity as a skypainter, Farrah worked with every color she could imagine. The colors outside of Cloudbank, however, went far beyond that.

In Your Blood (Red/Auden | 2,464 words | rated G) - Auden had been working as Red’s personal security detail for two months now, and she still knew precious little about him beyond his name and where he came from.
Perhaps it was time to learn a little bit more.

Gold on Black Velvet (Red/Auden | 663 words | rated G) - Red discovers a small velvet box in the pocket of Auden's jacket, and answers the question he never got to properly ask.

The Flowers of the Afternoon (Red/Auden | 2,257 words | rated G) - After a simple, intimate picnic in the Country, Red finds her creativity rekindled, and her relationship with her lover reaffirmed yet again.

Seconds March into Silence (Red/Auden | 200 words | rated G) - When the Process begins to affect Auden inside the Transistor, Red seeks to comfort him with her song. But what he sings back to her breaks her heart.

What's So Great About Sunshine (Red, Auden | 200 words | rated G) - Predictable weather and a predictable public leave them both feeling trapped and alone, unaware of each other and what they have in common.

Advocate (Niola, Auden | 500 words | rated G) - Niola is committed to achieving equality for all residents of Cloudbank, regardless of their socioeconomic status, and every little defiance against the status quo helps, even if it's just voting for another day of rain.

Sky Looks Blue 'Cause We Want It To (Niola, Farrah | 500 words | rated G) - Ahead of the quarterly solstice celebration, Farrah runs her planned performance past Niola and the two decide to remind Cloudbank not only what beauty and passion look like, but also that those qualities are accessible to everyone.

Precedent (Niola, Bailey | 500 words | rated G) - Visiting the archives to find a precedent on which she might model the Goldwalk Channel, Niola finds an unexpected source of support for the project, instead.

Lacuna (Niola, Wave | 500 words | rated G) - The day before general election votes are due, Niola gives an interview on Wave Tennegan's radio show, explaining what her plan for Goldwalk Channel is, and how she hopes it will change Cloudbank for the better.

Meritless Perspectives (Niola, Grant | 500 words | rated G) - An angry crowd disrupts the opening of the Goldwalk Channel, and Niola tries her best to keep her patience with them. When she finally snaps, a city official unexpectedly offers his support for her, as well as an enigmatic invitation.

Good (Red/Auden | 200 words | rated E) - Red and Auden return from a night out, heady on love and lust and drink.

Morning (Red/Auden | 200 words | rated T) - Waking up in the arms of the man she loves, Red finds herself inspired.

Gutted (Auden, Mack | 2,017 words | rated M) - Auden runs into an old friend at the bar, a mechanic who just lost his livelihood to a vote he couldn't even participate in.

With Armor Spent (Red/Auden | 1,395 words | rated G) - After weathering an over-enthusiastic crowd at the Halcyon Street stage, both Red and Auden are unnerved by the memories that resurface, though Auden refuses to disclose the specifics, leaving Red unable to do anything for him but remain by his side, and remind him that together, they are going to be all right.

Serendipity, or Just Dumb Luck (Red/Auden | 5,942 words | rated T) - Having revealed that she doesn't know how to dance, Red asks Auden to teach her. It's a simple request, but the longing looks and gentle touches and unavoidable proximity that come with it give rise to feelings that are anything but.

Here With You, Here With Me (Red/Auden | 872 words | rated G) - Red takes a final gamble in turning the Transistor on herself. It pays off.

Bracken and Fir (Barney/Valancy | 1,511 words | rated M) - Overtaken by darkness during a walk through the woods, Barney and Valancy spend a night beneath the stars and the trees, in a makeshift bed of bracken and fir boughs.

A Token of Appreciation (Barney, Valancy, Cissy | 2,458 words | rated G) - He hadn't been thinking of Valancy during that trip to the Port, not really. At least, not until he saw the little boxes of chocolates in the window of the confectionery and decided then and there that Valancy simply must have one--as a friendly gift, a token of appreciation, nothing more. Definitely nothing more.

Keep Reading (Barney/Valancy | 1,137 words | rated T) - For Valancy, there are few luxuries in life sweeter than being able to read a novel beside a great, crackling fire. Barney is determined to show her one of them.

All the Light and Shadow of It (Barney/Valancy | 2,181 words | rated G) - In the aftermath of the incident at the train tracks, Barney comes to terms with how he feels for Valancy, and how important she has become in his life.

Queen of the Wild Places (Barney/Valancy | 500 words | rated G) - John Foster's thoughts on solitude and love.

This Precious Time When Time is New (Barney/Valancy | 7,046 words | rated T) - The first three days of Barney and Valancy's marriage, during which they find that no matter whether their love is "real", they are inexorably drawn toward one another, mind, heart, and body.

One She Would Understand (Barney & Cissy | 8,570 words | rated T) - In all his thirty years before arriving at Mistawis, Barney had never known true friendship. But when he thought of Cissy's shy smile, her delicate way of dealing with both her father and her baby, and the air of loneliness that enveloped her when she discussed her exile from Deerwood society, he resolved to at least make an attempt. After all, she wasn't the only one who could use a friend.

Two Halves of Nothing (Illusion of Gaia | Will | 495 words | rated G) - Will considers Lance's reunion with his father, and whether either of them have found the closure they sought.

Empty Hands (Bastion | Zulf | 300 words | rated G) - Zulf's beloved promised him she would not break beneath his touch. But the Calamity pays promises no heed.

Reawakening (Parasite Eve | Aya & Daniel | 5,711 words | rated T) - When Daniel is ambushed during an investigation, Aya's powers reawaken after months of dormancy. But they are not the powers she'd become familiar with; in fact, they more closely resemble Eve's. After the account of her reawakened powers goes public, Aya is contacted by an FBI agent who tells her about the survival and westward migration of Neo-Mitochondrial Creatures, and invites her to join MIST to stop them. As Aya debates leaving the NYPD for MIST, she receives a startling reminder that her battle is far from over.

The Big Chair (Neko Atsume | Speckles | 300 words | rated G) - Speckles liked to sit beside his owner, Missus, in her big chair, even if she let the books sit on her lap, instead. But when Missus dies and her daughter begins clearing out the house, Speckles runs away, finding the street a tough place to live, but preferable to being boxed up and put away like Missus' beloved books. Weak from hunger, he eventually stumbles into the Neko Atsume yard, where he discovers an unexpected piece of home, and peace of mind.

Snowbird (Oglaf | Grier/Snow Queen | 3,906 words | rated T) - When Greir receives a pendant that protects its wearer from the cold, she decides to try it out by visiting the Snow Queen's castle to reclaim a journal she left behind the last time she was there. The queen's interest in the contents of the journal--and in Greir herself--encourage Greir to talk and slowly drop her defenses, and she discovers a place, and a person, that allow her to truly be herself.

A Common Domestic Animal of Earth, NW Quadrant (2021 Chevy Silverado "Walter" commercial | Walter & Gary | 3,600 words | rated G) - To gather information for his dissertation on human technology, an alien scholar and his friend conduct field research on Earth, disguised as a man and a cat, respectively. Neither imagined they'd enjoy it as much as they do.