Textbox, Esteem: "Y-You think you have it bad, sinner?" Y'shtola and Ryne voicing their concern after the last lightwarden was absorbed, Alica's corruption quite obvious even without the glaring aether.

Textbox, Esteem: "I'm holding us together more than you realize. And it hurts like shite." Esteem buckled over in pain even more than Alica, their visual corruption rampant through their body and outfit.

The unseen struggle.

#AlicaMSQ #Shadowbringers #Esteem

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray"
- Rumi

#motivation #selflove #love #selfrespect #esteem #resilience #recovery #believeinyourself #selfacceptance #selfappreciation #selfassessment #selfconfidence #dream

"Vengeance" (1)

#DanceWithDragons #Esteem #Heavensward #GPose

Textbox, Esteem: "Is this the godsdamned Orphanage of Light now?" Alica and Esteem standing in front of a crowd composing of Alphinaud, Myste, "Minfilia", and Alisaie.

They just can't resist protecting the little(r) people.

#AlicaMSQ #Shadowbringers #Alphinaud #Alisaie #Ryne #Esteem #Myste

"Grief" (1)

#DanceWithDragons #Esteem #Heavensward #DRK #GPose

Kas-andra, possessed by Esteem uncovers an unmarked grave in Western Coerthas with a shovel. "No one knew where they buried you... why would they? The Holy See would rather had you forgotten."

Esteem stands over the body of Fray. "But you were never one I would forget. How could I, when we once were one. But only now, staring at the man I was..."

Fray lays dead on the ground, his helmet resting beside his head. "They would call you a heretic, a monster. Few even knew your name. You were just a Dark Knight."

Esteem angerly looks away from the corpse. "But you were more than that. To Sidurgu, to Rielle, to 'chefant, to Kas-andra. To Me. There was only on word would have called you."

"Friend" (1)

#DanceWithDragons #Esteem #Heavensward #DRK #GPose

The surprisingly connected origins of "estimate" and "aim". #etymology #wordnerd #linguistics #HistoricalLinguistics #language #words #lingcomm #estimate #aim #esteem

youtube.com/shorts/Htj_1...

Alica offering a comforting embrace to Tsuyu's lingering soul beneath the moonlight, their guise altered by Esteem to take the form of their servant outfit.

Textbox, Alica & Esteem: "I know ole Jifuya was on that list of yours. You will have justice, I swear it."

"We were both made to serve a world that abandoned and abused us. I will never cast aside the dirty and broken, Tsuyu, you deserved kinder."

#AlicaMSQ #Stormblood #Esteem #Yotsuyu #Tsuyu

Alica and Lyse cuddling in a secluded grove in the Lochs, their mutual love being a spark for their path.

As well as the love of souls lost, and the self, as Esteem, Fray, Myste, and Haurchefant all join in to comfort them from another plane.

"In your darkest hour, in the blackest night...think of me...and I will be with you. Always. For where else could I go? Who else could I love but you?"

#AlicaMSQ #Stormblood #DRK #WolLyse #Wolchefant #Esteem #Fray #Myste #ffxivgpose #gposers

Alica embracing Edmont after he expresses his desire for them to stay, and as family, even though he knows they cannot.

Even Esteem is overjoyed, a tear running down, for a kinder house neither of them have ever known.

"Do not seek forgiveness, for it will not ease the burden. It weighs as it should."

#AlicaMSQ #DRK #Stormblood #Edmont #Esteem

Textbox, Master's Simulacrum: "Look on the faces of your victims! They are legion! Again and again you kill. Do you feel nothing?!" Alica confronting Myste's simulacrum of their former master—who they killed to save themself and the other abused servants.

Textbox, ???: "I tire of this charade, and so do you." Alica is petrified confronting this past crime, until the voice of reason and pragmatism interjects.

Textbox, Esteem: "Juuuust like old times." Esteem runs the simulacrum through with Sid's Deathbringer, taunting a knife in the other hand, the very same they held that night.

"Such is our lot. Such is the fate of all who are born—to suffer and die."

#AlicaMSQ #Stormblood #DRK #Esteem

Textbox, Esteem: "Oh *now* you like my suggestion?" Raubahn and Nanamo resolve to go their separate ways, while Alica gets an idea in their head on how they can stay themselves.

In a full knight's getup, Alica 'offers their blade' to Lyse in the throne room, their love and silly idea being what fully starts them on the path.

Lyse bursts into a chuckle fit over the idea, but accepts having her lover close all the same, as Alica stands there sheepishly and embarrassed.

They get a kiss on the nose, still flustered and feeling not as cool as they hoped, but it was worth it anyway.

"M-My blade is yours, if you'll have me..."
"What, is that your way of proposing to me already? Gods you can be so silly. You can do whatever you want, but it would, ehm, make me happy to have you..."

#AlicaMSQ #Stormblood #Esteem #WolLyse

Alica calling upon that inner darkside that's been with them all along.

The two of them locking gunblades together, jackpot style. Esteem looks to be having much more fun than even they are.

Performing a double Lion Heart together, as Zenos welcomes his end, one way or another, dying truly happy.

"You can't nurture what I already had, you don't get to die on your terms..."friend". And I will *enjoy* it."

#AlicaMSQ #Stormblood #Esteem #Zenos

Alica and Esteem overlooking a cliff facing Ala Mhigo, a ridiculously large sword in Esteem's hand.

"Just pray she does not deny your blade its purpose.

...And by the Twelve get rid of that noisy old antique."

"What, for that slab of iron? Looks to me like it lacks style *and* substance..."

#AlicaMSQ #Stormblood #Esteem

Alica still reeling from the loss of Gosetsu as Lyse and Esteem flank them.

Close-up of Esteem's face, taking on the form of Alica's old servant appearance to mock them.

Clutching their head to try to force them out of the moment.

Their anchor rouses them again from those dark depths, offering a hand and embrace.

"We could have ended up like her, you know, maybe even like that man turned monster. A beast of burden gone mad. Vengeance and anger, without a sword pointing the way. It's good you didn't, but gods you would love it, just for a moment."

#AlicaMSQ #Stormblood #Esteem #WolLyse

Textbox: "Non-binary...non...like Nhaama! Nhaama-binary..." Magnai makes a grave error.

Lyse and Alica folding their arms and looking at each other with an annoyed expression.

They wind up a big punch in unison.

And execute a Double Shoryuken on Magnai. Esteem approves.

Their meeting with the Sun went about as well as expected.

#AlicaMSQ #Stormblood #Esteem #WolLyse #Magnai

Textbox: "......This is a new low even for you. Just what the hell are we even doing here?" Alica getting judged by their inner voice for doing the 'dirty' work.

It is what it is (and they're running out of those)

#AlicaMSQ #Stormblood #Esteem

Alica suffering defeat and humiliation once again at Zenos' hands, the abyss now their sole comfort in the moment. They will have their moment, but not now, the presence assures.

Alica getting scolded by Lyse for their recklessness.

Alica getting the life squeezed out of them by a worried companion.

"He was right about one thing─endure, survive, live. And when the time is right, I will be there, and we will take *bloody* pleasure.

...And if not for us, for your newfound tether."

#AlicaMSQ #Stormblood #Esteem #WolLyse

Alica kneeling beside the grave of a young girl's parents, lost to the rebellion and serving as a symbol of folly rather than conviction.

A shadowy figure accompanies them and whispers to them.

Stronger still, for the moment, is the warm presence around their neck. They nuzzle the side of their head against an arm, limp and feeling so small within the embrace, a slight smile creasing on their face. An anchor...a burden.

"They've accepted their pitiful lot in life. They fear the threats and the reprisals. Not you though."

#AlicaMSQ #Stormblood #Esteem #WolLyse

"I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side."
- Maya Angelou

#motivation #selflove #love #selfrespect #esteem #resilience #recovery #believeinyourself #selfacceptance #selfappreciation #selfassessment #selfconfidence

"If you believe something needs to exist, if it's something you want to use yourself, don't let anyone stop you from doing it."
- Tobias Lütke (CEO of Shopify)

#motivation #selflove #love #selfrespect #esteem #resilience #recovery #believeinyourself #selfacceptance #selfappreciation #selfconfidence

"Trust me, self love will never hurt you."
- Anonymous

#motivation #selflove #love #selfrespect #esteem #resilience #recovery #believeinyourself #selfacceptance #selfappreciation #selfassessment #selfconfidence

"Life is tough, my darling, but so are you."
- Stephanie Bennett-Henry

#motivation #selflove #love #selfrespect #esteem #resilience #recovery #believeinyourself #selfacceptance #selfappreciation #selfassessment #selfconfidence

Good morning. Be your wonderful self today!

#motivation #selflove #love #selfrespect #esteem #resilience #recovery #believeinyourself #selfacceptance #selfappreciation #selfassessment #selfconfidence

"When we give ourselves compassion, we are opening our hearts in a way that can transform our lives."
- Kristen Neff

#motivation #selflove #love #selfrespect #esteem #resilience #recovery #believeinyourself #selfacceptance #selfappreciation #selfassessment #selfconfidence

"Choose to be optimistic, it feels better."
- Dalai Lama

#motivation #selflove #love #selfrespect #esteem #resilience #recovery #believeinyourself #selfacceptance #selfappreciation #selfassessment #selfconfidence

"You're always with yourself, so you might as well enjoy the company."
- Diane Von Furstenberg

#motivation #selflove #love #selfrespect #esteem #resilience #recovery #believeinyourself #selfacceptance #selfappreciation #selfassessment #selfconfidence

"Sometimes taking a moment to do 'nothing' is the best 'something' that we can do."
- Craig D. Lounsbrough

#motivation #selflove #love #selfrespect #esteem #resilience #recovery #believeinyourself #selfacceptance #selfappreciation #selfassessment #selfconfidence

"The happiness of life is made up of the little charities of a kiss or smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment."
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

#motivation #selflove #love #selfrespect #esteem #resilience #recovery #believeinyourself #selfacceptance #selfappreciation #selfassessment #selfconfidence

"For peace of mind, we need to resign as general manager of the universe."
- Larry Eisenberg

#motivation #selflove #love #selfrespect #esteem #resilience #recovery #believeinyourself #selfacceptance #selfappreciation #selfassessment #selfconfidence